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.
Young Georgian piano talents Sandro Gegechkori, Giorgi Gigashvili and David Khrikuli will be among competitors entering two of the important international competitions this coming spring, with the Maria Canals Barcelona International Piano Music Competition in Barcelona and the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv set to host their performances.
Young Georgian pianist Sandro Gegechkori has triumphed at the Feurich International Piano, Vocal and Chamber Music Competition in the Austrian capital of Vienna by taking first prize and other awards at the contest on Tuesday.
Pianist Mariam Batsashvili is set for an evening bill of Liszt, Ravel and more at Vienna Konzerthaus on Sunday, as the young talent prepares to take to the stage of the historical venue "on short notice".
Georgian pianist Tamta Magradze was declared winner of the Online Audience Award of the Liszt Competition Utrecht, after she finished first in an online poll on Monday.
Pianist Sandro Gegechkori won the 66th International Music Competition Maria Canals in the Catalan city of Barcelona on Wednesday, crowning his successful performances at the event that also saw the young performer use the limelight for a wider cause earlier in the week.