Classical Music

CUGATE CLASSICS is pleased to release the complete symphonic works of the Georgian composer GIYA KANCHELI plus “Light Sorrow” and “Mourned By The Wind”, all in newly remastered versions. Conducted by DJANSUG KAKHIDZE. GIYA KANCHELI (1935 – 2019) was and still is the best-known Georgian composer, celebrated for his mastery of silence and his (deceptive) simplicity. KANCHELI’s career as classical composer started in the 1960s after first attempts with chansons and popular songs, his first symphony was accomplished and premiered in 1967 in Tbilisi, conducted by DJANSUG KAKHIDZE.

Reminiscence of the famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze on the occasion of his 80th anniversary. He belonged to the small but highly prestigious group of East European conductors who set up a cultural counterdraft to the political conflicts in the times of cold war. He conducted almost every A class symphony orchestra of his hemisphere and became a much-vaunted advocate of late romantic orchestral repertoire.

Reminiscence of the famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze on the occasion of his 80th anniversary. He belonged to the small but highly prestigious group of East European conductors who set up a cultural counterdraft to the political conflicts in the times of cold war. He conducted almost every A class symphony orchestra of his hemisphere and became a much-vaunted advocate of late romantic orchestral repertoire.

Reminiscence of the famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze on the occasion of his 80th anniversary. He belonged to the small but highly prestigious group of East European conductors who set up a cultural counterdraft to the political conflicts in the times of cold war. He conducted almost every A class symphony orchestra of his hemisphere and became a muchvaunted advocate of late romantic orchestral repertoire.

Reminiscence of the famous Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze on the occasion of his 80th anniversary two years ago. He belonged to the small but highly prestigious group of East European conductors who set up a cultural counterdraft to the political conflicts in the times of cold war. He conducted almost every A class symphony orchestra of his hemisphere and became a much-vaunted advocate of late romantic orchestral repertoire. Mvravinsky adored him for his Tchaikovsky interpretations and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung called him respectfully „the Georgian Karajan“. And indeed, although most comparisons go lame there were some similarities: the economical gestures, the endless working on sound perfection, the passion for big dynamics and a great affection for the Golden Age of classic and romantic music. But other than Karajan he did not only put most of his emphasis on the sheer beauty of the orchestral sound but also investigated the disaccords in the music and did not hesitate to unfold it.

In 2000 Vakhtang Kakhidze, son of the legendary Georgian conductor Djansug Kakhidze and multi-talented as composer, conductor and pianist received a request from Switzerland to compose a musical praise on the occasion of the bimillenary of the birth of Jesus Christ. It came from the famous Swiss Army Brass Band, which needed something special for a tour across their country. So they actually commissioned the composer and in the same year Vakhtang Kakhidze accomplished ”Glory Alleluia”, “Elegy” and “Advent Suite“ for men‘s and boy‘s choirs and brass band.