Tbilisi Opera & Ballet State Theatre, Georgia/ In solidarity for the cultural world of Georgia
Orchestra of the TBILISI OPERA AND BALLET STATE THEATRE
In 2006/2007 the Orchestra of Tbilisi Opera & Ballet State Theatre, Georgia has been equipped with all String Instruments by our atelier. This page is an hommage to the great culture and open minded artists of Georgia, who actually suffer the war in their country. The orchestra was equipped with the help of a great georgean sponsor to whom we give our thanks to have enabled us to make these instruments, and whose collaboration for the love to culture and arts is incredible.
We supplied the orchestra with 26 violins ( first and second violins ) 10 violas, 10 cellos.
Here a description of the Orchestra:
Symphony Orchestra
The Theatre Symphony Orchestra (121 artists) is composed of the performers of International level. Artists of the orchestra are high-level professionals. Orchestra gives concerts of symphony and vocal music. During several years the orchestra was lead by Eugene Mikeladze, Ivan Paliashvili, Vakhtang Paliashvili, Odyssey Dimitriadi, Shalva Azmaiparashvili, Givi Azmaiparashvili, Jansugh Kakhidze, Zaza Azmaiparashvili. Inspector of the Orchestra is Avtandil Kikacheishvili, Inspector’s assistant, Vadim Shubladze, concertmaster of the orchestra, Lela Mchedlidze.
Symphony Orchestra of Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre has serious traditions, it was formed as soon as the theatre was founded and from the very beginning was completed by the Georgian and foreign professional musicians.
On opening of the theatre in 1857 the orchestra and the theatre company produced 12 European operas under the guidance of Italian conductor Barbiery. Peter Tchaikovsky who five times visited
Since 1860 the orchestra begins independent artistic activities and gives concerts of symphonic music under conduct of Shaning and Katany. In 80-ies of the 19th century the orchestra accompanied such outstanding musicians as Shaliapin, Rubinstein and Rakhmaninov.
During the 20th century the orchestra was conducted by Evgeni Mikeladze, Ivane Paliashvili, Vakhtang Paliashvili, Odyssey Dimitriadi, Shalva Azmaiparashvili, Givi Azmaiparashvili, Jansug Kakhidze.
Since the 30-ies of the 20th century the orchestra together with the theatre company goes on tours to different countries of the world. The tours to a prestigious international musical festival in Hungary – “Segedi International Games” and the 4th international Paris musical festival (France, 1966) were great success. In 1974 the orchestra as well as the theatre company presented three Georgian operas during the days of Georgia in Saarbruken. In 1993 the orchestra and the ballet company of the theatre appeared before the audience on Malta, in the Mediterranean concert hall and in 1994 at Sananders musical festival in Spain.
Equally successful was the tour of the orchestra and the theatre opera company in Israel (2003) at the 4th Rishon-Letsion international festival – “Classical Spring”.
In 2004 due to the changes made in management of the theatre the staff of the orchestra was renewed.
Since 2004 Zaza Azmaiparashvili became the artistic manager of the opera and the conductor-in-chief of the orchestra.
In 2004-2007 outstanding conductors Manlio Bentz and Shuia Okatsu, soloists Ferucho Furlaneto, Makvala Kasrashvili, Zurab Anjaparidze, Zurab Sotkilava, Badri Maisuradze, Paata Burchuladze, Misheal Kraider, Lado Ataneli, Eter Lamoris, and Iano Alibegashvili appeared with the orchestra on the stage.
The symphony orchestra of the theatre consists of the performers of the highest level of professional excellence. The orchestra regularly gives concerts of symphonic and vocal-symphonic music, cooperates with Paata Burchuladze charity foundation “Iavnana”. Concerts of Lado Ataneli, Alexandre Korsantia, Eter and Lamara Tchkhonias arranged lately as well as performance of “Requiem” by Verdi in 2006 proved to be important cultural events.
It is worth of noting that in 2005 a chamber orchestra was organized on the basis of the symphony orchestra and concerts under conduction of Gogi Chichinadze and Gogi Babuadze, a conductor whose artistic career at present is connected with Japan, were given.
In 2006 the orchestra and the theatre opera company were great success in Sweden, at the well-known Dalhala opera international festival where “The Troubadour” by Verdi and “Samson and Delilah” by Saint- Saëns were presented.
In 2007 for the first time in the history of the theatre the opera company and the orchestra were presented at European opera days where various European theatres participated.
In 2007 the process of equipping the orchestra with new instruments began. The instruments designed for the orchestra are made and produced by the various world known firms and masters. The process of equipping the orchestra with new instruments will be over by the end of 2007.
The orchestra has serious future plans connected with new opera and ballet productions as well as with concert activities.