GUESTS FROM GEORGIA: THE TBILISI GIYA KANCHELI STRING QUARTET AND THE FOLKLORE TRIO RERO

In the Old Town of Vilnius, where every turn of stone recalls centuries of cultural communion, St Catherine's Church will once again become a living centre of the sanctuary of music during this year's festival „Christmas Evenings“. Here an exceptional concert will take place, at which two Georgian musical traditions will meet: the classical and the folk. This is not only an artistic evening but also a meaningful cultural dialogue, joining peoples, generations and different musical worlds. The sound of classical music will be presented by the Giya Kancheli String Quartet, which through its activity makes the musical traditions of Georgia known internationally. The ensemble was founded in 2010 by students of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire under the guidance of Professor Nodar Zhvania. From its very inception, the ensemble has taken an active part in international competitions and festivals, winning the highest awards and collaborating with renowned musicians, among them T. Licheli, V. Shiukashvili, G. Babuadze and others. In 2018, by decision of the composer Giya Kancheli, the ensemble was given his name. The quartet is led by the violinist David Akopian – a graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, actively taking part in international projects and collaborating with Lithuanian composers. Together with him, the stage will feature: Violinist Nika Barateli – a graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire (class of Prof. K. Vardeli), laureate of international and national chamber music competitions, artist of the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra, member of the Georgian State Quartet. Violist Mamuka Babuadze – a graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, artist of the Georgian National Symphony Orchestra, member of the Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra „Georgian Sinfonietta“, actively performing in Georgia and in other European countries. Aleksej Solonovich-Gvamichava – a Georgian cellist actively performing in Georgia as a soloist and chamber musician. He is a soloist of the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Vakhtang Kakhidze, a laureate of international competitions, a regular participant in festivals in Georgia and abroad, appearing both solo and in chamber ensembles. Traditional Georgian music will be presented by the joint Lithuanian–Georgian ensemble „Rero“, in which renowned performers of instrumental and vocal ethnic music come together. The hymns and folk songs they perform will open the door to the archaic, polyphonic Georgian musical soul, full of emotional depth, national identity and contemporary expression.

Adresas: Šv. Kotrynos bažnyčia