Christian Blackshaw & Vakhtang Kakhidze
Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra
June 6, 2023 at 19:00
Kakhidze Music Center
Christian Blackshaw
Vakhtang Kakhidze
Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra
June 6, 2023 at 18:00
Kakhidze Music Center
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto #4, Op. 58 in G Major
I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante con moto
III. Rondo (vivace)
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto Symphony #7, Op. 92 in A Major
I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
II. Allegretto
III. Presto – Assai meno presto
IV. Allegro con brio
A deeply passionate and sensitive pianist, Christian Blackshaw is celebrated for the incomparable musicianship of his performances. His playing combines tremendous emotional depth with great understanding.
Following studies with Gordon Green at the Royal College Manchester and Royal Academy London, winning the gold medals at each, he was the first British pianist to study at the Leningrad Conservatoire with Moisei Halfin. He later worked closely with Sir Clifford Curzon in London.
He has performed worldwide and in festivals as recitalist and soloist with many renowned conductors including Valery Gergiev, Yannick Nézet-Seguin, Sir Simon Rattle, Herbert Blomstedt, Jonathan Nott, Gianandrea Noseda, Yuri Temirkanov and Sir Neville Marriner. He was Founder Director of the Hellensmusic Festival which was established in 2013.
His hugely acclaimed Wigmore Hall complete Mozart Piano Sonatas series was recorded for Wigmore Hall Live and released in four volumes. Critics have been unanimous in their praise, describing these “landmark” recordings as “captivating”, “magical” and “masterful”. Volume 4 was named as one of the Best Classical Recordings of 2015 in the New York Times in addition to Gramophone Magazine’s Top 50 Greatest Mozart Recordings.
Recent notable performances include the Mozart cycle in Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing and debuts at the Schwetzingen, Edinburgh International Festivals, Schubertiada and with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has been an Artist in Residence at the Wigmore Hall, London.
Future engagements include recitals at Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, Palau de la Música in Barcelona, Schwetzingen Festival, a recital tour in Japan, a residence at Orchestre Metropolitaine in Montréal at invitation of Yannick Nézet-Seguin and the whole Mozart sonata cycle at Snape Festival in August 2023.
He was awarded an MBE in the New Year 2019 Honours
Vakhtang Kakhidze was born into a family of musicians in 1959 in Tbilisi, Georgia. He began to study music in age of 6 years as a pianist. In 1975 he finished choir conducting department of Music High School. In 1981 he graduated from Moscow State Conservatory as a composer, and in 1983 he finished the post graduate courses of the same institute. His teachers were such famous musicians as Nikolai Sidelnikov – composition, Edison Denisov – art of instrumentation and others.
Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra has been founded in 1993 by famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze. Since 2002 the artistic director and chief conductor of Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra is his son – well-known composer, conductor and pianist Vakhtang Kakhidze.
Vakhtang Kakhidze was born into a family of musicians in 1959 in Tbilisi, Georgia. He began to study music in age of 6 years as a pianist. In 1975 he finished choir conducting department of Music High School. In 1981 he graduated from Moscow State Conservatory as a composer, and in 1983 he finished the post graduate courses of the same institute. His teachers were such famous musicians as Nikolai Sidelnikov – composition, Edison Denisov – art of instrumentation and others.
Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra has been founded in 1993 by famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze. Since 2002 the artistic director and chief conductor of Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra is his son – well-known composer, conductor and pianist Vakhtang Kakhidze.
As composer Vakhtang Kakhidze works in different musical genres. His pieces were performed in Moscow, Petersburg, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Finland, UK, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Israel, India, the USA and Japan. He is an author of music for more than 60 drama performances, soundtracks for 20 films and animated cartoons, several jazz compositions and pop songs.
Vakhtang Kakhidze studied conducting in 1987-89 with his father, world famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze. In 1989 he started his activity as a conductor. His debut took place in Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, where he has conducted several performances of his ballet “Amazons”. From 1993 he worked as conductor of Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra. Beside concert performances he recorded 25 CDs for famous international sound-recording companies as “Sony Classical” and others.
In 2002 Vakhtang Kakhidze was appointed a Chief Conductor (Music Director) of Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of Djansug Kakhidze Tbilisi Centre for Music & Culture. During these years he conducted more than 500 concerts with Tbilisi Symphony orchestra in Georgia and other countries: Russia and Italy (2004), Armenia (2009), Israel (2016), Germany (2017/2018), Poland (2019), Turkey (2018/2022.
As guest conductor Vakhtang Kakhidze performed with such well-known orchestras and ensembles as: Kiev Symphony Orchestra (1994), chamber orchestras “Moscow Soloists” (1997-2005), Prague Symphony Orchestra (1997), “Kremerata Baltica” (1999), Symphony Orchestra “New Russia” (2003-2005), Beijing Symphony Orchestra (2005), Paris Trinity Church Choir and Orchestra (2006), German Ensemble “Del Arte” (2006-2008), Israel Chamber Orchestra (2006-2009), L’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie (2008), The Israel Camerata-Jerusalem (2010-2014), Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (2016-2017), Northwest Deutsche Symphony Orchestra (2017), “Kobe Ensemble” (Japan-2019), “La Scala” Chamber Orchestra (2019/2022) and others.
Since 2002 Vakhtang Kakhidze leads annual International Music Festival “Autumn Tbilisi” (September-October), which hosts famous musicians all over the world.
In 2015 he established ”Djansug Kakhidze International Music Festival”, which is orientated on collaboration of Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra with World Stars of Jazz and Pop music as: “The Manhattan Transfer”, “New York Voices”, “Take Six”, “The Real Group”, “Swingle Singers”, “DePhazz”, Ivan Lins, Bob James, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patti Austin, Ricchard Bona, Avishai Cohen and others.
Vakhtang Kakhidze is holder of several prizes:
1981 – 1st prize at the former USSR competition for young composer
1997 – “Spring” – The special prize instituted by Tbilisi City Hall for achievements in the arts
“Nato” – The prize instituted by Georgian Cinema Academy for the best film music
1998, 2005 and 2013 – The prize for the best music composed for drama performance instituted
by Georgian Theatre Union
2000 – “Order of Honour” – The state award of Republic of Georgia
2010 and 2021 – “Shota Rustaveli Prize” – The supreme award in the arts of Republic of Georgia
2013 – “The Presidental Order of Exellence”
“Golden Feather” – The honourable prize established by Journalists Association of Georgia
2015 – “Zakhary Paliashvili prize” – established by the Musicians Association of Georgia
2018 – Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi
2022 – “Best of Georgia” – International award of Swiss Rating Association
During these years, the standard of Tbilisi Symphony has risen to international ones. The orchestra had concert tours in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Poland, Israel and Russia.
Orchestra had very successful concerts in such famous concert halls as:
Berlin Philharmonic, Nikolaisaal in Potsdam, Salle Pleyel and Theatre de Champs Elyssee in Paris, Symphony Hall in Basel, Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt , Verdi Concert Hall in Milan, Santa Cecilia Music Academy New Symphony Hall in Rome, Congress Hall in Ankara, Jerusalem Philharmonic, Warsaw State Philharmonic, National Forum of Music in Wroclaw, Big Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Symphony Hall of St. Petersburg Philharmonic.
Tbilisi Symphony has attended several international music festivals:
Tibor Varga Festival in Sion, Festival European in Wiltz, Festival Musiquale in Saint Yrieix la Perche, Paleo Festival in Nion, Ankara International Music Festival, Istanbul IS SANAT festival
.
Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra performed with such world – famous musicians as:
J.Careras, M.Rostropovich, Y.Bashmet, G.Kremer, V.Tretjakov, N.Gutman, V.Repin, A.Kniazev, G.Hoffman, N.Freire, L.Leonskaia, D.Alexeev, F.Leuleux, M.Lethiec, E.Virsaladze, LIsakadze, L.Batiashvili, Kh.Buniatishvili, and many others.
Besides, the orchestra has concerts with world stars of popular music: Michel Legrand, Didier Lockwood, Jan.Garbarek, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Bob James, Patti Austin, Ivan Lins, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Richard Bona, Avishai Cohen, Paula Morelenbaum and vocal groups – The Manhattan Transfer, TAKE 6, New York Voices, The Swingles and De Phazz.
Tbilisi Symphony collaborates with well-known conductors and outstanding contemporary composers.
The concert programs of Tbilisi Symphony are very diverse including the works by Classical, Romantic and 20th century composers. The orchestra is an active promoter of works by Georgian classical and modern composers.
Tbilisi Symphony has recorded over 150 musical pieces for SONY Classical and other foreign sound recording companies.
In 1993 Tbilisi Symphony, in collaboration with Djansug Kakhidze Tbilisi Center for Music & Culture and Tbilisi City Hall, has founded an annual International Music Festival “Autumn Tbilisi”, which hosts famous musicians from all over the world and became the most popular musical event in Georgia. In 2015, with support of Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection of Georgia has been established Djansug Kakhidze International Music Festival, the idea of which is a creative collaboration of Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra and world stars of popular music.
In 2004 orchestra has realized the recording of Georgian National Anthem.
Tbilisi Symphony systematically takes part in important cultural events at home and outside the country, performs concerts in regions and supports the development of Georgian musical culture.