11th international festival ‘Night Serenades 2019’ in Batumi and Tbilisi
Friday, August 16
For 11th consecutive year, ‘Night Serenades Festival’ is coming to Batumi and Tbilisi.
For the 11th consecutive year, “Night Serenades Festival” is coming to Batumi and Tbilisi.
Founded in 1982 in Abkhazia, with the initiative of a famous Georgian violinist and conductor, Liana Issakadze, the international festival “Night Serenades Festival” was stopped after the tragic events of 1991.
The festival was revived 18 years later, in 2009, in Batumi under Liana Issakadze as the permanent Artistic Director. Starting from 2018, along with her, the festival’s artistic director is her nephew, Giorgi Issakadze.
This year, it offers its listeners a variety of interesting programs. Concerts on August 25, 27 and 28 will take place in the Great Hall of Ilia Chavchavadze State Drama Theater in Batumi. On September 2 and 4 the Grand Hall of Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory will be hosting the festival.
‘Night Serenades 2019’ concerts will present masterpieces of classical music, performed by “Georgian Virtuosos,” a chamber orchestra founded by Ms. Liana Issakadze. Principal conductor of the festival is Vakhtang Matchavariani. World-famous musicians: Nana Jashvili (violin), Nino Surguladze (mezzo-soprano), Anna-Lisa Bezrodny (violin, Finland/UK), Jan Erik Gustafsson (cello, Finland), Sandro Nebieridze (Piano), Pantelis Kogiamis (guest-conductor, Greece/Austria), Trio from Kazakhstan with Erlan Serkebaev (piano), Bagdat Abilkhanov (violin) and Kurvanzhan Akhatov (cello). Jan Erik Gustafsson will perform Cello Concerto by Vazha Azarashvili.
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Levan Kharatishvili spoke about the program.
“This is one of the most important festivals for our ministry and our country, which is being held for the 11th time. The program is very diverse and varies every year. Night Serenades undoubtedly maintains the highest standard and quality that I am sure will be of particular interest to both Georgian and foreign audiences. Our ministry traditionally has been and will always support the festival,” said Kharatishvili.
Maka Nasrashvili, Deputy Head of the City Hall of Tbilisi also underscored the importance of the festival, saying that “the ‘Night Serenades’ is an integral part of Tbilisi’s cultural life.”
Director of the festival Nina Tsagareli highlighted that “the program is very diverse, designed for listeners of all ages and tastes.” World-famous pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, Pablo Sarasate, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Benjamin Britten, Piazzolla, Dmitri Shostakovich, etc. will be performed.
“The tandem of Vazha Azarashvili and the famous Finnish cellist, Jan Erik Gustafssons is also very important. The programme will also feature young Georgian pianist, Sandro Nebieridze, with trumpet player David Shamanauri, who will perform Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1,” noted Tsagareli.
Nino Surguladze, a famous Georgian mezzo-soprano, will be taking part in the festival for the first time.
“I take part in the festival for the first time, and I am especially pleased because Liana Issakadze is my favorite person. She has been the spirit of this festival for many years, and today George Issakadze is on her side, they are both Artistic Directors. Many interesting international guests are arriving. This festival is very important for tourism and art propaganda,” she said.
Surguladze revealed that at the final show of the festival, on September 4, with the orchestra conducted by Vakhtang Matchavariani, she will perform “El Amor Brujo” by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla which is “full of passion and best Spanish folk melodies”, according to her. “I am personally very happy that I will be present at such a festival. Such festivals should be promoted,” she added.
Since 2015, by the decision of the Tbilisi City Council, the festival has been called “Batumi-Tbilisi International Festival.” The festival is organized by “Art Alliance” company.
The official partners of the festival are: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Georgia; Batumi City Hall; Tbilisi City Hall; Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara;
The official insurer of the festival is Company Ardi.
The general sponsor is Company “Telasi”.
Partners include: Georgian Brand “Mari Gold”; First Georgian Whisky “Jimsher”; Wine Company “Royal Khvanchkara,” Company “Sarajishvili,” Chain of perfume stores “Lutecia”, “Aromateque”, “Palma Apartments.”
Festival Media Supporters are Adjara TV; Georgian Public Television; TV Imedi; TV Pirveli; “ArtArea”; Digital and Media Marketing Agency “ClipArt”; “Ambebi.GE”; Information Agency “Prime Time”; Information Agency “GHN”; Internet Media Group “iTV”, “Droni.ge” and “Pressa.ge”; English Language Newspaper “Georgia Today”; English Language Daily Edition “The Messenger”; Video-Portal “myvideo.ge”; Magazine “Sarke”; Newspaper “Adjara”; Radio Holding “Fortuna”.
