Sandro Gegechkori in Barcelona piano competition finals, dedicates performance to deceased Georgian reporter
Sandro Gegechkori seen performing at the Barcelona-based competition before reaching the finals. Photo via Concurs Internacional de Música Maria Canals de Barcelona.
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Young pianist Sandro Gegechkori is in the final stage of the 66th International Music Competition Maria Canals Barcelona after a performance dedicated by the musical artist to deceased Georgian reporter Lekso Lashkarava, who died on Sunday after being assaulted earlier in the week by right-wing groups.
Gegechkori reached the finals of the contest on Sunday alongside two other pianists, Portugal's Rafael Kyrychenko and Ziming Ren of China. His performances at the event have included works by Bach, Beethoven and Liszt.
The finals are set to be held on Wednesday, with contestants performing on the backdrop of the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès led by conductor Jordi Francés at the Concert Hall of the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona.
Els 3 finalistes del concurs #MariaCanals2021!!!
— Concurs Maria Canals (@mariacanals_bcn) July 11, 2021
Ziming Ren, Rafael Kyrychenko i Sandro Gegechkori!
FELICITATS!!!!????
Final:
???? 14 de juliol de 2021
???? 20h
???? @palaumusicacat pic.twitter.com/coMZ9RMklB
Gegechkori dedicated his performance, which took him into the final stage of the competition, to TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was found dead at his home on Sunday.
Lashkarava had been one of 53 media professionals attacked by right-wing groups protesting against the Tbilisi Pride queer rights event on Monday. Protests involving citizens paid homage to his memory in Tbilisi on Sunday, with reporters holding their own solidarity rally as part of the demonstrations.
Alongside Gegechkori, the Maria Canals piano competition has also involved Tamar Makharadze, another Georgian pianist, among the dozens of artists from around 20 countries competing in the 1954-established contest.