UNESCO-supported Batumi Music Fest to showcase acclaimed artists, young talent
Festival’s artistic director and renowned pianist Elisso Bolkvadze photographed with conductor David Mukeria. Photo: Batumi Music Fest.
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Internationally recognised musical artists, local performers and emerging young talent will make Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi the place to go for classical music enthusiasts during the Batumi Music Fest starting early next month.
For 10 days, the festival organised by the Lyra Foundation of internationally celebrated Georgian pianist Elisso Bolkvadze will be held under high patronage of the UNESCO.
Recognised as the only cultural project in Georgia bearing the UNESCO title, it will involve headlining artists including Irish pianist Barry Douglas, French pianist Lise de la Salle and Greek conductor Myron Michailidis.
See pianist Barry Douglas perform First Movement from the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 below:
They will join Georgian artists for the festival roster including the first Georgian performance of violinist Veriko Tchumburidze, a laureate of first prize of the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.
Tchumburidze will perform the Beethoven Piano Concerto in D major, with conductor David Mukeria leading the Symphony Orchestra of the Batumi State Music Centre in Black Sea coastline city.
The festival will also travel to the nearby Guria province, where eight young pianists from Georgia and Lithuania will entertain their audience in a gala show in the town of Chokhatauri.
Following other performances planned in the programme, the closing show on September 12 will feature festival founder and artistic director Bolkvadze joined by a girls’ choir.
The celebration of classical music will not be limited to artist appearances — the Music Fest will also host an “art camp” programme of trainings for young artists between the ages of 12-20.
It is expected to involve up to 300 young visitors from various parts of Georgia for “developing their creativity through music”.
Pianist Lise de la Salle is one of the headlining artists of the event. Photo: Xavier Antoinet.
Additionally, renowned French music teacher Michel Sogny, known for developing an innovative method for teaching piano, will lead free master classes for emerging artists.
Founded in 2013 by Bolkvadze — a UNESCO Artist for Peace — the festival has gained a UNESCO patronage for the second time.
Its previous editions have featured artists including Ukrainian violinist Valeriy Sokolov, French pianist Cyprien Katsaris and French violinist Bruno Monsaingeon.
This year’s festival is set to run between September 2-12.
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Internationally recognised musical artists, local performers and emerging young talent will make Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi the place to go for classical music enthusiasts during the Batumi Music Fest in early September.
Internationally celebrated musical artists including pianists Alexander Gadjiev and Lydie Solomon and clarinetist Claudio Mansutti will join UNESCO Artist for Peace Elisso Bolkvadze and other acclaimed performers in this year’s Batumi Black Sea Music and Art Festival starting next week.
Four young piano talents from Georgia will be part of a Christmas gala concert in Paris next month when the SOS Talents foundation brings together its laureates to a Champs-Élysées location in the capital city.
Classical music enthusiasts are invited to attend a special charity performance by celebrated Georgian pianist Elisso Bolkvadze next week in Kutaisi.
Cellist Alexander Hülshoff and pianist Alexandra Massaleva will be among the headlining performers at this year's Batumi Black Sea Music & Art Festival, a popular celebration of classical music in the seaside city that has been enriched with multi-faceted art forms in recent editions.