Georgia may be a small country and geographically on the eastern fringe of Europe, but it plays an outsize role in the continent’s cultural life. Planning to sit down and drink a glass of wine tonight? Thank the Georgians: they invented wine making 8,000 years ago. Remember from school the Greek myths of Jason and the Argonauts and their hunt for the golden fleece, or Prometheus, who steals fire from the gods and in punishment has his liver torn out night after night? These stories have their origins in Georgia, too. Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, has built its reputation for having one of Europe’s wildest nightclub scenes, with big name DJs appearing frequently at the Noble Savage Club and other buzzing venues. There’s an often radical fashion week, which in recent years has platformed Ukrainian fashion designers alongside Georgians, and a young, international crowd of artists is working in every conceivable media. If you are looking for creative inspiration, Tbilisi is surely the place to be.
Serious music enthusiasts leave the capital behind, however, and head to the Tsinandali Estate in Kakheti, a wine making region of eastern Georgia. Tsinandali’s fine historic house, built in the early 19th century by Prince Alexander Chavchavadze, anchors extensive vineyards and gardens, a winery, and two hotels. Current owners Silk Hospitality have recognised the appeal of the estate as an events venue, and have invested in a 1,000-seat amphitheatre for outdoor concerts, and also numerous smaller performance spaces. Every summer, the estate hosts the Tsinandali Festival, and on 1 May 2024, classical music lovers will be shivering with excitement as the Berliner Philharmoniker performs its annual Europakonzert in Georgia for the very first time.
The choice of Tsinandali as venue for the 2024 Europakonzert is a validation of the estate’s core mission of music for peace. It is sure to be a particularly joyous celebration of Georgia’s European identity, as in December 2023, the EU officially granted candidate status to Georgia. Solo violinist Lisa Batiashvili, the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Artist-in-Residence for the 2023/24 season, is thrilled to be performing to a home crowd. “I believe this concert will be the highlight of my life,” says the violinist. “I am overjoyed that the people of Georgia will be given the opportunity to hear such a great orchestra, so steeped in tradition, performing live in their country […] Georgia has been fighting for many years to be a part of the European family. Culturally, it has long been part of Europe. This concert should make that clear.”
Understandably, tickets for the Europakonzert sold out within days of being released, so those who were slow off the mark need to look instead to the programme for Tsinandali Festival, which this year takes place from 31 August to 6 September. The festival’s mission is to promote the language of music at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, so there’s a strong international line up of musicians, including American violinist Joshua Bell. They will be performing works by Brahms, Mozart, and Schubert, as well as by Georgian composers who are less familiar to foreign audiences. The world premiere of Sandro Nebieridze’s Piano Quintet No. 1 “Sisyphus” is scheduled for 7 September in the Chamber Music Hall. What is more, Lisa Batiashvili will be performing in the final concert, accompanied by the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra, so those who missed her at the Europakonzert will get a second chance.
If you can’t visit Georgia until autumn, time your visit to include Giorgobistve in November. This event takes place around the Feast of St George (who is Georgia’s patron saint, as well as the UK’s), which the Orthodox Church celebrates on 26 November. In Georgia, it’s a prime opportunity for music, drinking, and fine dining, and there is nowhere better to combine the two than at Tsinandali. Stay at Tsinandali Estate, a Radisson Collection Hotel and you will be partying into the small hours, with DJs and live music acts providing the soundtrack to unforgettable supras, the traditional Georgian feast.
Sophie Ibbotson
