Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Khatia Buniatishvili set to perform in Georgia

Israel’s leading symphony orchestra and award-winning Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili will play for audiences in Georgia later this year as a preview of the country’s upcoming Tsinandali Festival of classical music.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, led by its musical director and conductor Zubin Mehta, will team up with Buniatishvili to present the classical show in September.

The concert will be held at a 1000-seat amphitheatre currently under construction, and is aimed to promote the Tsinandali Festival which is scheduled to launch in 2019.

See pianist Khatia Buniatishvili play Rachmaninoff piano concertos for a new recording by Sony Classics label:

The project for the festival was officially revealed in January and involves the cooperation of the Georgian government and the Silk Road Group private investment company.

Set to be hosted in eastern Georgia’s winemaking Kakheti region, the festival will involve the building of facilities for the event as well as launching of an international music academy in the town.

Organisers said the academy would seek to invite "leading teachers and performers” of classical music to work at the school.

Along with dedicated government agencies, the festival initiative has received official support from Georgia’s prime minister.

Zubin Mehta has directed the Israel and Vienna philharmonic orchestras. Photo: Ronald Zak/AP.

Currently in its 81st season, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded as the Palestine Orchestra in 1936 by violinist Bronislaw Huberman.

The maiden concert of the orchestra in December 1936 was led by famous Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini.

Indian-born conductor Zubin Mehta became musical director of the Israel Prize-winning orchestra in 1977. He also worked as musical director for the New York Philharmonic from 1978-1991.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its 80th anniversary last year. Photo: Oded Antman/IPO.

Khatia Buniatishvili was born in Georgia’s Black Sea city Batumi and is currently based in Paris, France.

She has received international awards for her performances including being named Musician of the Year by Europe's most viewed television channel TF1 in December 2016.

Her other prizes include the ECHO Klassik 2016 Award from Germany's Music Industry Association.

The Georgian pianist has performed on some of the most prestigious global stages including the Carnegie Hall venue in New York. She also played with the Israel Philharmonic in 2016 for a concert dedicated to the 80th birthday of Mehta.