The International Festival “Night Serenades”, founded in 1982 in Abkhazia by world-renowned violinist and conductor Liana Isakadze, is Georgia’s longest-running classical music festival. Over the years, it has become a cultural landmark, uniting celebrated musicians and audiences from around the globe.
This year, the festival will take place from August 20 to October 11, offering six unforgettable concerts in Borjomi, Batumi, and Tbilisi.
Star Performers of 2025
The festival program brings together internationally acclaimed artists alongside young talents, including:
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Beatrice Venezi – conductor (Italy)
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Veriko Tchumburidze – violin (Georgia/Turkey)
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Balletto di Roma – ballet company (Italy)
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Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi – bandoneon (Italy)
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Nello Salza – trumpet (Italy)
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Sopho Khalvashi – vocals (Georgia)
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Andres Gabetta – violin/conductor (France)
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Maurice Steger – recorder (Switzerland)
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Tamar Licheli – piano (Georgia)
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Giorgi Shiolashvili – piano (Georgia)
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Festival orchestra “Georgian Virtuosi” (concertmaster Lela Mtchedlidze).
Festival Highlights
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August 20 (Borjomi, 19:00) – Grand Opening under the stars with Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi (bandoneon, Italy), Maurice Steger (recorder, Switzerland), and the Georgian Virtuosi.
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August 22 (Batumi) – “Morricone: The Legend of Cinema”, featuring Nello Salza, Morricone’s longtime trumpet soloist, who will bring to life unforgettable film scores from Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, Malèna, and more.
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August 24 (Batumi) – “Vivaldi Fever” with baroque stars Andres Gabetta (violin/conductor) and Maurice Steger (recorder), joined by Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi and the Georgian Virtuosi.
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August 26 (Batumi) – “The Soul of Tango”, a fiery program inspired by Argentinian passion, featuring works by Astor Piazzolla, Martin Palmeri, Roberto Molinelli, Igor Stravinsky, and Ángel Villoldo.
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October 9 (Tbilisi, Conservatoire Grand Hall) – Beatrice Venezi conducts a program including Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major (soloist Veriko Tchumburidze) and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
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October 11 (Tbilisi) – Georgian premiere of “Astor”, a dance-theatre project by Balletto di Roma, created in 2021 to mark Piazzolla’s centenary. A fusion of music, drama, and choreography, accompanied by Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi.
Beyond Music
In addition to concerts, the festival will host:
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Exhibitions of Georgian artists
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Thematic masterclasses
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Educational workshops for students and people with disabilities
Since 2018, the artistic director of the festival has been Giorgi Isakadze, nephew of the founder.
The festival is organized by Art Alliance (Director: Nina Tsagareli) with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, Adjara Ministry of Culture, Tbilisi, Batumi, and Borjomi City Halls, the Embassy of Italy in Georgia, Radio Fortuna, and Fortuna.ge.
You can view the concert program and purchase tickets here.
