Vazha Azarashvili Tribute Concert 2025
2025/4/8
On April 8, Vazha Azarashvili Tribute Concert 2025 – a memorial concert marking the first anniversary of his demise was held at the Grand Hall of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. The event took place in the scope of Japan Weeks 2025 in Georgia and was co-organized by the Embassy of Japan and the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. In honor of the lifelong achievements of Georgian composer Vazha Azarashvili, who passed away in February 2024, Japanese and Georgian musicians performed a selection of his works.
In his opening speech, Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Ishizuka Hideki, pointed out the great significance of this tribute concert holds great significance in terms of the cultural exchange between Japan and Georgia and extended his gratitude to the co-organizer, the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, and the performers, including the Georgian Sinfonietta and cellist Ms. Hitomi Niikura. In addition, the ambassador offered special thanks to pianist Mr. Toshiki Usui, who had established a long-standing friendship with the late Mr. Azarashvili and had been entrusted by him with copyright management, for his contributions to promotion of cultural exchange between two countriesa through music. Deputy Rector of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Ms. Nino Kasradze, expressed her gratitude towards the Embassy of Japan and Maestro Usui, for holding this cultural event, and expressed her hope for further development of Japanese-Georgian relations cultural exchanges.
During the concert, Mr. Usui was joined by cellist Ms. Niikura Hitomi and the Georgian Sinfonietta. Together, they performed a variety of works composed by Mr. Azarashvili, including the Georgian premiere his “Piano Concerto No.3”, which the composer wrote specifically for Mr. Usui along with other unpublished pieces. Additionally, music from Japanese Studio Ghibli film was also featured in the program.
Please see the following link for the detailed description of the program:
https://www.ge.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_01067.html
In his opening speech, Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Ishizuka Hideki, pointed out the great significance of this tribute concert holds great significance in terms of the cultural exchange between Japan and Georgia and extended his gratitude to the co-organizer, the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, and the performers, including the Georgian Sinfonietta and cellist Ms. Hitomi Niikura. In addition, the ambassador offered special thanks to pianist Mr. Toshiki Usui, who had established a long-standing friendship with the late Mr. Azarashvili and had been entrusted by him with copyright management, for his contributions to promotion of cultural exchange between two countriesa through music. Deputy Rector of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Ms. Nino Kasradze, expressed her gratitude towards the Embassy of Japan and Maestro Usui, for holding this cultural event, and expressed her hope for further development of Japanese-Georgian relations cultural exchanges.
During the concert, Mr. Usui was joined by cellist Ms. Niikura Hitomi and the Georgian Sinfonietta. Together, they performed a variety of works composed by Mr. Azarashvili, including the Georgian premiere his “Piano Concerto No.3”, which the composer wrote specifically for Mr. Usui along with other unpublished pieces. Additionally, music from Japanese Studio Ghibli film was also featured in the program.
Please see the following link for the detailed description of the program:
https://www.ge.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_01067.html