Georgian winner of Liszt Piano Competition to perform in Tbilisi

Georgia’s leading young pianist and winner of the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in the Netherlands is gearing up for an enchanting performance in Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi.

Mariam Batsashvili, 21, will perform at the Tbilisi State Conservatory on Monday, December 8. She became a household name after winning the 10th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht last month.

The competition, open to pianists aged 17-29, was regarded as one of the world's most significant piano competitions and is well known for the professional support it offers laureates.

In addition to the €50,000 prize, Batsashvili will now receive extensive support from the competition organisers and international performance opportunities.

The Georgian pianist studied at the Mikeladze Central Music School in Tbilisi.

She has won prizes in numerous competitions, including first prize at the International Franz Liszt Competition for Young Pianists in Weimar in 2011 and second prize at the María Herrero International Piano Competition in Granada in 2012.

She was a soloist with the Erfurt Philharmonic Orchestra and with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra on numerous occasions.

Watch Batsashvili’s performance of the Liszt's Concert for Piano and Orchestra N1 in E-flat Major at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition finale gala evening. She played with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by James Gaffigan.