Local, global musicians in Tbilisi for Contemporary Music Evenings 2016

Georgia’s capital is hosting a diverse mix of local and international talent at the annual festival Contemporary Music Evenings Tbilisi 2016.

For the next six weeks four venues in Tbilisi will host performances from top contemporary musicians. This year’s performing bands include Israel's Meitar Ensemble and local pianist Nana Khubutia, as well as students and graduates of Tbilisi State Conservatory.

The festival opened on March 26 at the Rustaveli Theatre small stage with a show by Tbilisi-based Gela Kandelaki State Shadow Theatre, a permanent partner of the event.

The festival's concluding show will host Israel's Meitar Ensemble on May 9. Photo from the Meitar Ensemble.

The Contemporary Music Evenings Tbilisi 2016 will pay homage to music by contemporary creators including famous 20th Century late Greek-French composer Iannis Xenakis and late Georgian avant-garde composer Mikheil Shughliashvili.

The festival program will be spread out over six weeks with performers taking the stage in four Tbilisi venues.

The next performance will be by pianist Nana Khubutia on April 4, with her show titled Another Piano.

Two more evenings in April will present Tbilisi State Conservatory students and graduates.

The closing show on May 9 will host the Meitar Ensemble from Israel with their Tedarim Project that aimed to "help and nurture young musicians who share the love for new music”.

The Israeli band will present their performance A Survivor from Warsaw, dedicated to Holocaust survivors.

The four venues hosting the Contemporary Music Evenings Tbilisi 2016 are Rustaveli Theatre, Tbilisi State Conservatory, TBC Bank Art Gallery and National Parliamentary Library of Georgia.

The annual Contemporary Music Evenings was first held in 2005. Since then the festival has hosted bands the Ensemble Recherche from Germany, France's Ensemble Court-Circuit, Israel's Contemporary Music Players and more.