The first gala concert of the “Night Serenades” festival was hosted by Borjomi. The international festival, named after Liana Isakadze, officially opened in Borjomi on August 21. The initial concert took place at the Likani Hotel in Borjomi. The audience’s applause was so enthusiastic that the performers were brought back for an encore, receiving a long-standing ovation. After this opening, the festival will move to Batumi, with two concerts scheduled for August 23 and 25 at the Ilia Chavchavadze Drama Theater.
Otar Arbolishvili, Mayor of Borjomi, stated, “For the second time, it has become a tradition for the international festival named after Liana Isakadze, ‘Night Serenades,’ to open in Borjomi with a grand gala concert in the open air. Georgian and foreign stars visited our city and gave us an unforgettable evening. The people of Borjomi eagerly anticipate this festival every year, and Borjomi City Hall is proud to host such a high-level event.”
Giorgi Issakadze, the artistic director of “Night Serenades,” shared, “This year’s festival opened with performances by exceptional soloists: Mario Stefano Pietrodarki, Elvin Khoja Ganiev, Ensemble ‘Borjomi,’ Mariam Kikaleishvili, Giorgi and Mariam Bugianishvili, and the festival’s base orchestra, Georgian Virtuosos (with first violin Lela Mchedlidze). These extraordinary artists performed works by Antonio Vivaldi, Béla Bartók, Astor Piazzolla, Ennio Morricone, Carlos Gardelli, Franz Schubert, Vazha Azarashvili, and Revaz Laghidze. I extend my gratitude to the supporters of our festival: the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Adjara, Borjomi City Hall, Tbilisi City Hall, Batumi City Hall, and the Italian, Brazilian, and Czech Embassies in Georgia. Our host hotel is Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi, and we also thank our festival partners: the National Symphony Orchestra and Hotel Borjomi Likani. A special thank you to the Borjomi audience for their warm welcome.”
Nina Tsagareli, director of “Night Serenades,” noted, “Following an important and successful opening in Borjomi, our festival will continue at the Ilia Chavchavadze Drama Theater in Batumi on August 23 and 25. This year, we will present seven concerts across three cities in one month. Internationally recognized performers and emerging young musicians are participating in this year’s festival, including Mario Stefano Pietrodarki (Bandoneon, Italy), Elvin-Khoja Ganiev (violin, Azerbaijan/Turkey), Beatrice Venezi (conductor, Italy), Sandro Nebieridze (piano, Georgia), Andres Gabetta (violin, France), Maurice Steiger (recorder, Switzerland), Giorgi Shaverzashvili (piano, Georgia), Giorgi Khaindrava (violin, Georgia), Lizi Ramishvili (cello, Georgia), Mariam Roinishvili (soprano, Georgia), Giorgi Oikashvili (clarinet, Georgia), and the National Symphony Orchestra. The final concerts will be held on September 15, 17, 18, and 20 at the Tbilisi State Conservatory. Over the course of one month, we will offer seven concerts, exhibitions of Georgian artists, and master classes and workshops for students, young people, and individuals with disabilities.”
Mario Stefano Pietrodarki remarked, “This is my first time in Borjomi, and I am in awe of this extraordinary city and its amazing audience. Georgian listeners are special, and I love this festival and its audience. I invite everyone to attend the concerts in Batumi.”
Elvin Khoja Ganiev added, “This is my first time participating in ‘Night Serenades.’ My family has a long history with Mrs. Liana Isakadze, so it is a great honor for me to participate in the festival named after her. All concerts are dedicated to her memory. I thank the organizers for giving me the opportunity to be part of this festival. After Borjomi, I will perform in Batumi and eagerly invite everyone to attend.”
The “Night Serenades” international festival, founded by world-renowned violinist and conductor Liana Isakadze in 1982 in the beautiful region of Abkhazia, is one of Georgia’s longest-running traditional festivals. Due to the events of 1991, the festival temporarily ceased but was revived in 2002 under the name “Celebration of Art” in Borjomi. In 2009, it returned to the Black Sea coast, once again becoming known as “Night Serenades” in the picturesque city of Batumi. Starting in 2023, Borjomi was added as a festival city. This year marks the sixteenth edition of the festival since its revival, now named in honor of Liana Isakadze. The festival is organized by Art Alliance, with Nina Tsagareli as director and Giorgi Issakadze as artistic director since 2018. Giorgi Issakadze, a musician and educator, is the founder and director of the Music and Dance Academy and School in Ingolstadt and is the nephew of Liana Isakadze. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports of Adjara, Tbilisi City Hall, Batumi City Hall, and Borjomi City Hall.
