On September 22, the first evening of the final concerts of the XV anniversary International Festival “Night Serenades” was held in the large hall of the Vano Sarajishvili State Conservatory.
World-famous musicians performed before the audience: Italian conductor Beatrice Veneti, talented Georgian violinist Veriko Chumburidze, Georgian National Orchestra.
For lovers of classical music, the overture of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Force of Fate”, the intermezzo of Giacomo Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut”, the overture of Gioachino Rossini’s “Wilhelm Tell”, the overture of Umberto Giordano’s “Fedora”, and the overture of Pietro Mascagni’s “Friend Fritz” were performed. – Intermezzo.
At the concert, Beatrice Venezi performed overtures and intermezzos from Italian operas with the festival’s partner, the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as Tchaikovsky’s violin concert with the internationally recognized violinist, winner of the Veniavskyi competition, Veriko Chumburidze.
“The opening concert of Night Serenades 2023 was a great success in Tbilisi, where unforgettable examples of Italian opera art sounded,” said Giorgi Isakadze, artistic director of Night Serenades. “The overtures of Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Maskani were brilliantly performed by the talented Beatrice Vanezzi with Italian romantic charm and Western-European sophistication.
“Outstanding young violinist Veriko Chumburidze surprised the audience with his amazing virtuosity and deep insight by performing Tchaikovsky’s violin concert. Excited public did not let the soloist off the stage for a long time with shouts of “Bravo” and “Encore”.
“I am glad that the opening concert of Night Serenades in Tbilisi went so well.”
“Night Serenades festival is the most important cultural event for Georgia,” noted Enrico Valvo, Ambassador of Italy to Georgia. “We are glad to be involved in this festival and our most talented and distinguished artists are coming to Georgia. Cultural cooperation between Georgia and Italy is very important. Collaboration is necessary for the artists of these 2 countries.
“It would be good if the festival returns to the place where it started – in Abkhazia, in Bichvinta. This year’s festival has expanded even more – it started in Borjomi, continued in Batu and now moved to Tbilisi with the final concerts.
“I wish success to the festival and its extraordinary team, who are doing everything to organize an unforgettable holiday.”
“Tbilisi City Hall traditionally supports the festival Night Serenades and congratulates the successful holding of the 15th anniversary festival,” said Maka Nasrashvili, Head of Culture Service of Tbilisi City Hall.
“It is important that famous musicians visited the festival traditionally and gave unforgettable days to classical music lovers.
“I want to wish success to Night Serenades. I am sure that many more unforgettable evenings await us.”
The founder of the festival is the world-famous violinist and conductor Liana Isakadze, the artistic director is Giorgi Isakadze, a musician working in Germany. Six concerts are planned for one month in Borjomi, Batumi and Tbilisi.
World-renowned Georgian and foreign stars and young talented musicians participated in this year’s festival. The basic orchestra of the festival is “Virtuosos of Georgia”. Concertmaster of the orchestra, first violin – Lela Mchedlidze. The partner of the festival is the National Symphony Orchestra.
Supporters of Night Serenades are: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall, Batumi City Hall, Borjomi City Hall, Adjara Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Italian Embassy in Georgia, German Embassy in Georgia. Embassy of Italy in Georgia, Embassy of Germany in Georgia.
This year’s anniversary festival of Night Serenades has expanded. The festival was opened in Borjomi, at the “Borjomi Likan” hotel. The gala concert was attended by Sabine Grofmayer – clarinet, Germany, Eilika Wunsch – soprano, Germany, Giorgi Oniani – tenor, Georgia, Riccardo Marinello – tenor, Italy, Giorgi Bugianishvili, director of the “Borjomi” ensemble.
The Batumi concerts were hosted in the Ilia Chavchavadze Professional State Drama Theater of Batumi, where Eilika Vunshi – soprano, Germany, Riccardo Marinello – tenor, Italy performed in front of the audience. Heyon Park Festival Base Orchestra “Virtuosos of Georgia” accompanied by Tamar Lichel.
In parallel with the concerts, within the framework of the festival, special attention will be paid to the cognitive-educational program – field master classes, workshops and open lectures will be held for students and young people, including people with disabilities.
The organizer of the festival is the company “Art Alliance”, the director of the festival is Nina Tsagareli.
Night Serenades is an international festival with the longest history in Georgia, which has been in existence for 41 years. The idea of creating the festival belongs to Liana Isakadze – Georgian violinist and conductor, People’s Artist of Georgia, who is one of the greatest musicians of the century. He was included in the Encyclopedia of 2000 Prominent Musicians of the 20th Century by the Cambridge Bibliographic Center (England, 2002).
Back in 1982, Liana Isakadze, in the most beautiful part of Georgia – Abkhazia, founded the international festival “Night Serenades”, which was held in Bichvinta in the summer and enjoyed great popularity. Unfortunately, due to the tragic events in our country, the festival ceased to exist in 1991, in 2002-2009, the festival was held in Borjomi under the name of “Celebration of Art”, and in 2009 it was possible to restore “Night Serenades” and the festival moved to the beautiful city of Batumi on the Black Sea coast.
Since 2018, the artistic director of the festival is Giorgi Isakadze – a musician and teacher, the founder and director of the Ingolstadt and Munich Music and Dance Academy and School, the nephew of Liana Isakadze.
Since the same year, the base orchestra of the festival has been the chamber orchestra “Georgian Virtuosos” created by Liana and Giorgi Isakadze (conductor Lela Mchedlidze), which includes talented young Georgian musicians.
During its existence, the festival has hosted many world-class musicians, including: Alfred Schnittke, Kurt Mazur, Gidon Kremer and many others.
Host hotels of “Night Serenades”: Borjomi Likan, Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi. Festival partners: National Symphony Orchestra, Professional State Drama Theater named after Ilia Chavchavadze of Batumi. The furniture house “Nita”, the best guarantee of quality and design, the chain of perfume stores “Lutecia”, the founder of herbal cosmetics from France “Yves Roche”, the company “Sarajishvili”, the “Wine Cellar” of the Khutsishvili brothers, the premium direction of “HOTSALE.GE”, a pharmaceutical company “PSP” news supporters: Adjara Public Broadcaster, First Channel of Georgia, “Rustavi2”, “Imedi”, “Pos TV”, “Euronews Georgia”, “Georgian Times” Media Holding, “Ertsulovneba”, “TV25”, Media and digital communications agency “Clip Art”, information portal “Ambebi.Ge”, information agency “Prime Time”, “Georgian Press”, English-language newspaper “Georgia Today”, English-language daily newspaper “Messenger”, magazine “Sarke”, newspaper “Adjara”, radio “Fortuna” and website Fortuna.Ge
Translated by Mariam Mtivlishvili
