Batumi-Tbilisi International Fest "Night Serenades" to Celebrate 11th Anniversary

On August 6, Georgia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport held a press conference on this year’s Batumi-Tbilisi International Festival “Night Serenades.”

The press conference was led by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Levan Kharatishvili, Director General of the Festival, Nina Tsagareli, renowned Georgian mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze, and Deputy Head of Department of Culture of Tbilisi City Hall Maka Nasrashvili.

With the support of the Ministry, from August 25 to September 4, the Batumi-Tbilisi International Festival "Night Serenades" will be held for the 11th year. A series of musical concerts will offer a variety of musical pieces to the enthusiasts of classical music.

Concerts will be held on August 25, 27, 28 in the Batumi Ilia Chavchavadze Drama Theater and on September 2 and 4 in the Tbilisi State Conservatoire Grand Hall.

The Principal Conductor of the Festival is Maestro Vakhtang Machavariani.

The world-class concerts will be performed by famous soloists and conductors such as the Orchestra "Virtuoses from Georgia,” created by the Artistic Director of the Festival, renowned violinist and conductor Liana Isakadze; Nana Iashvili (violin); Nino Surguladze (mezzo-soprano); Anna-Liisa Bezrodny (violin, Finland/England); Jan-Eric Gustavsson (cello, Finland); Pantelis Kogiamis (specially invited conductor, Greece-Austria); Kazakh State Trio - Erlan Serikbaev (piano), Bagdat Abilhanov (violin) and Kurvanzhan Akhatov (Cello); Georgian musician Sandro Nebieridze (piano), and more.

During the press conference, the Director General of the Festival, Nina Tsagareli, pointed out the diversity of this year’s Festival program.

“This year’s program is very diverse and interesting for audiences of any age and taste. Renowned Georgian composer Vazha Azarashvili's cello concert will be performed by a famous cellist from Finland, Jan-Eric Gustavsson, for the first time, and that’s not the only brilliant performance and pleasant surprise awaiting guests!” she said.

Along with other Georgian and foreign stars, this year’s festival will see the participation of world-famous mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze, who says she is very happy and honored to participate in the festival.

“I’m joining the Festival for the first time. This unique and prestigious festival is associated with the name of legendary Liana Isakadze and is always packed with extraordinary musicians from around the globe. This time a vocal performance has been added to the festival program for the first time, which makes it even more interesting. This time, I will be honored to perform together with Maestro Vakhtang Machavariani, who is my inspiration. I cannot wait to sing for the Georgian audience again,” she noted.

As the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Levan Kharatishvili, stated, Night Serenade” is one of the most important festivals for the Ministry of Culture, as well as for the whole country.

“The Festival maintains a quality and diverse program every year. This year’s program is especially impressive, as it involves world-famous stars, such as mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze and others. The audience will attend these unique events in Batumi and Tbilisi in August-September and traditionally, our Ministry will support it. I would like to thank the organizers and participants of the Festival. I am sure that very exciting adventures await for us within the frames of Night Serenades,” he elaborated.

The Deputy Head of Department of Culture of Tbilisi City Hall, Maka Nasrashvili, once again expressed Tbilisi City Hall’s support towards the Festival and pointed out its importance for the development of the country’s cultural life.

“The festival has been held for 11 years already, and it plays a significant role in the country’s cultural life, as well as tourism development. Tbilisi City Hall is a constant supporter and partner of this festival. Such events are especially important for our country and Tbilisi City Hall will continue to actively support it in the future,” she said.

The Night Serenades Festival was founded in 1982 in Abkhazia, at the initiative of famous Georgian violinist and conductor Liana Isakadze.

It ceased due to the war in Abkhazia. The restoration of the festival became possible only after 18 years, in 2009, in Georgia’s magnificent seaside city of Batumi.

Isakadze is still the Artistic Director of the festival. Since 2018, her nephew, artist Giorgi Isakadze, is also the Artistic Director of the Night Serenades.

Over the years, great interest in the festival led to its expansion and was renamed the Batumi-Tbilisi International Festival in 2015.

Tickets for the 2019 Night Serenades Festival are available online at ticket.ge.