Bands and orchestras from Germany and the Caucasus will flock to Tbilisi to celebrate classical works, vocal performance art and cinema music at the first-ever Youth for Classics in the Caucasus festival in the capital this Sunday.
The three-day event will involve a program giving a diverse roster of artists opportunity to showcase their talents at the Royal District Theatre venue.
It will open on Sunday with a concert by the Youth Symphony Orchestra from the German town Ibbenbueren, led by conductor Uwe Berkemer.
Listen to a Caucasian Chamber Orchestra recording of a work by composer Steve Bermain below:
Berkemer is known as artistic director and principal conductor of the Caucasian Chamber Orchestra, another group featured in the festival.
Uniting musicians from the Caucasus region, the chamber orchestra was founded by the German composer and pianist in 2005. The band celebrated their 10 years anniversary with a tour of European states a decade later.
Led by Berkemer, the Tbilisi-based orchestra’s recordings include the 2007 work Caucasian Impressions: Works For String Orchestra.
At the festival they will perform music by famed composers including Joseph Haydn, Camille Saint-Saens and Wolfang Amadeus Mozart.
The Tbilisi-based Caucasian Chamber Orchestra. Photo: German Embassy in Georgia.
The Youth for Classics in the Caucasus festival was created to facilitate musical cooperation between artists from different countries and foster future exchange programs.
Highlighting the goal, the Ibbenbueren Youth Symphony Orchestra will join the Caucasian Chamber Orchestra in a July 10 performance of works by Caucasian composers.
The evening will also feature folk singer and ensemble director Giorgi Ushikishvili and local ensemble Lasharela.
On the concluding day of the festival, a roster of select artists will perform music from cinema, before the event travels to the Black Sea coastline city Batumi to hold workshops for aspiring artists.