Georgian folk group captivates audiences in China

One of Georgia’s most renowned folk song and dance ensembles is captivating audiences all over China.

Rustavi, the State Academic Ensemble of Georgian Folk Song and Dance, is ending its successful tour of China this evening with a gala performance in Shanghai.

The troupe’s first performance was held on August 7 in Shenzhen before another performance yesterday in Beijing at the National Grand Theatre of China. After performing the national Georgian song Sulico, the ensemble was called to encore the tune and awarded with a standing ovation.

At each performance the ensemble’s artistic director Anzor Erkomaishvili gave a masterclass to the Chinese audience where he revealed the uniqueness of Georgian folk music, which was regarded as a "treasure” by outstanding ethnomusicologists of the world.

The Chinese organisers of the tour said the Rustavi singers had developed and mastered the unique art of synchronous improvisation, which was diversely displayed in polyphonic songs of different regions of Georgia.

Rustavi performed at the National Grand Theatre of China yesterday.Photo by Rustavi Facebook page.

The quality and vocal character of each singer was extremely important in conveying the spirit of Georgian folk music, characterized by specific colour, timbre, and individuality, said the Chinese side.

"Their intense sacred songs with their overlapping, continuously moving harmonies are spellbinding,” they said.

The Georgian group surprised their audiences by performing popular Chinese songs, which they earlier learnt, but added a Georgian twist to the tunes by means of Georgian traditional polyphony.