Georgia’s musicians bridge cultures through concerts
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In June, a group of around 20 young German musicians from the Federal Youth Orchestra and Federal Youth Choir travelled to Tbilisi, Georgia, to collaborate with Georgian musicians.
The musicians gathered to prepare a joint “Campus Concert” for the Beethovenfest in Bonn, aiming to combine German and Georgian musical traditions. Mirian Kokhunaishvili, the project’s conductor, noted that while emotional expression differs between the two cultures, the musicians ultimately found common ground in their music.
The “Campus Project”, organised by the Beethovenfest Bonn since 2001, connects young musicians from countries undergoing change, having previously included artists from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iran. This year’s project seeks to highlight Georgian classical music internationally and express hope for a shared European future, reflecting Georgia’s pro-European stance and values. Georgian composer Mika Mdinaradze created a new piece that blends Beethoven’s “Europa steht!” with traditional Georgian songs, representing a dialogue between cultures rather than forced unity.
Seventeen-year-old pianist and composer Tsotne Zedginidze, described by conductor Daniel Barenboim as “the new Mozart”, contributed a piece titled "Chmebi: Georgian Fantasia" for the concerts, drawing on ancient Georgian folk traditions. Star violinist Lisa Batiashvili, who supports young Georgian artists through her foundation, believes the collaboration fosters friendship between Germany and Georgia and could lead to a shared vision for the future.
The musicians will perform on September 23 and 24 in Bonn and Berlin, with the Bonn concert broadcast live on DW Classical Music’s YouTube channel.
