The evening featured performances by world-renowned stars of Baroque music: Andrés Gabetta (violin/conductor) and Maurice Steger (recorder, Switzerland), joined by the Festival’s base orchestra “Georgian Virtuosi” led by first violin Lela Mchedlidze.
The program featured: Henry Purcell – Ground from the semi-opera Timon of Athens, Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Flute in G minor, RV 439 “La Notte”, Pietro Locatelli – Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 1 No. 11, Jacob van Eyck – Engels Nachtegaeltje (The Angel’s Nightingale), Antonio Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in D major, RV 208 “Grosso Mogul”, Antonio Vivaldi – Flute Concerto in D major “Il Gardellino”, RV 428, Antonio Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in C major, RV 190, and Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, Op. 3 No. 8, RV 522.
As tradition goes, the concert was a resounding success, with the audience rewarding the performers with prolonged applause.
Giorgi Isakadze, Artistic Director of the Festival:
“Today’s second concert of the Batumi series was dedicated to Baroque music, featuring masterpieces by Vivaldi, Locatelli, and Purcell. The world-renowned musicians Andrés Gabetta and Maurice Steger brought this extraordinary music to life with brilliant virtuosity and remarkable artistry. Also performing were the orchestra “Georgian Virtuosi”, with first violin Lela Mchedlidze, while the harpsichord part was played by the young and talented Georgian pianist Giorgi Shiolashvili. ‘Night Serenades’ will present one more concert in Batumi on August 26, followed by two extraordinary evenings in Tbilisi this October.”
Nina Tsagareli, Festival Director:
“I am grateful to the exceptional Batumi audience. As always, we were welcomed with great warmth. We witnessed a true musical celebration, listening to the genuine virtuosos of the Baroque era — violinist Andrés Gabetta and recorder player Maurice Steger. Their program ‘Vivaldi Fever’ was filled with musical colors and emotions. We sincerely thank our supporters for making it possible to invite world-renowned musicians to Georgia and to realize this project. Special thanks go to our wonderful base orchestra “Georgian Virtuosi” for their outstanding performance, and of course, to the city of Batumi and our audience, who always greet us with ovations and shower us with immense warmth.”
Maurice Steger:
“This evening was full of extraordinary emotions. It was especially meaningful for all of us, as we performed Vivaldi’s works and felt such powerful emotions from the audience that we gave absolutely everything we had. I am glad that we were able to take the listeners on a journey into Vivaldi’s magical world. My heartfelt thanks go to the festival organizers for this great joy and honor of participating in the festival dedicated to Liana Issakadze.”
Andrés Gabetta:
“This is not my first time in Georgia. I love this country and its incredibly warm people. I am deeply impressed by Georgia, and I have said many times how much I truly love this country with its emotional and sincere audience. Participating in this festival is especially important to me. I know the Georgian public well, and I was certain this would be a special evening. We all gave our very best, and I believe everyone left satisfied. My gratitude goes to the orchestra and every participant for blending together so wonderfully and creating a truly festive celebration for the audience. I also thank the festival’s artistic director Giorgi Isakadze, and festival director Nina Tsagareli, for giving me once again the opportunity to appear before the audience under the name of this festival.”
The third concert of “Night Serenades” in Batumi will be held on August 26 under the title “The Soul of Tango”, marking the conclusion of the Batumi part of the festival. The final concerts will take place in Tbilisi on October 9 and 11.
Throughout the festival, exhibitions by Georgian painters, as well as specialized masterclasses and workshops for students and persons with disabilities/special educational needs, will also be held.
Festival Supporters: Ministry of Culture of Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall, Ministry of Culture of Adjara, Batumi City Hall, Borjomi City Hall, Embassy of Italy in Georgia.
Host Hotels: Borjomi Likani Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi, Courtyard Tbilisi Marriott.
Festival Sponsor Companies: French pioneer of plant-based cosmetics “Yves Rocher”, Georgian natural cosmetics brand “Piel Naturals”, wine company “Pavilion Wines”, “PSP” (pharmaceutical company), and furniture house “Nita”.
Festival Partner:Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School of Tbilisi.
Festival Media Supporters: Adjara Public Broadcaster, Georgian Public Broadcasting (First Channel), Rustavi 2 TV, Imedi TV, POSTV, Euronews Georgia, Billboard Georgia, Patriarchate TV Ertsulovneba, media and digital communications agency Clip Art, Palitra Media, news agency Prime Time, Georgian Press, English-language newspaper Georgia Today, English-language daily “The Messenger”, magazine “Sarke”, newspaper “Ajara”, online media “Ajara Times”, “Radio Fortuna” and web platform “Fortuna.ge”.
