Jarji
Balanchivadze

Jarji Balanchivadze

(1941 – 2011)

Jarji Balanchivadze, Georgian Composer, Pianist, Conductor. Founder and Artistic Director of chamber orchestra “Orfevsi”.

Date of birth – August 22, 1941

Place of birth – Tbilisi, Georgia

Date of death – June 2, 2011

Place of death – Tbilisi, Georgia

He is buried in Didube Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures – Tbilisi

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Jarji Balanchivadze was born in the family of composer Andria Balanchivadze, a classic of Georgian musical art, and he was involved in the world of music since childhood.

1960 – Graduated from Tbilisi’s Decade of Talented Children (today: Z. Paliashvili Musical Gymnasium).

1964 – Graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory, majoring in piano, in the class of outstanding pianist Maria Yudina;

1972 – 1976 – Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory teacher and TbilisiLecturer at I. Javakhishvili State University.

Founder and Leader of Chamber Orchestra Ensemble “Orfevsi”;

He is the author of a number of symphonic, chamber–instrumental and other works;

Transcriptions of works by various composers for chamber orchestra ensemble “Orfeus”;

He has held many solo concerts. He was the first performer of Andria Balanchivadze’s piano works, including piano concertos N3, N4, N5. Jarji Balanchivadze’s repertoire included: Mozart’s piano concerts, Chopin’s creations, P. Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto N1 (b moll)…

Musically, he organized performances in Tbilisi and Germany.

Along with music, Jarji Balanchivadze was passionate about painting. He had personal exhibitions in Tbilisi, Armenia, Germany and Holland.

FAMILY

Grandfather – Meliton Balanchivadze (1863 – 1937), composer. People’s Artist of Georgia (1933);

Grandmother – Maria von Allmendingen (Vasilyeva)

Uncle – George Balanchine (Giorgi Balanchivadze) (1904–1983), ballet master, choreographer, founder of American ballet school and neoclassical ballet – author of about 300 ballet productions;

Father – Andria Balanchivadze (1906 – 1992), composer, People’s Artist of Georgia and the Soviet Union (1957, 1968);

Mother – Natusia (Pana) Jibladze – artist

Brother – Amiran Balanchivadze (1934 – 1995)

Sister – Tsiskara Balanchivadze – Tbilisi Z. Ballet actor of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after Paliashvili

Spouse – Ketevan Machavariani – musician

son – Anton Balanchivadze – artist;

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

1960 – Laureate of the 1st Transcaucasian Musician–Performers Competition;

1960 – Two–time laureate of the 1st prize of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia;

1991 – Winner of the Ferenc Liszt medal (Hungary);

1996 – Honorary Citizen of Radeformwalde (Germany);

1972 – 1976 – Teacher of Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory

1972 – 1976 – Lecturer at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Jarji Balanchivadze

(1941 – 2011)

Jarji Balanchivadze was a well-known figure in Georgian professional music, a talented musician who worked as a pianist, conductor, composer, and artist… The Balanchivadze family is an unique family whose representatives have left significant traces in Georgian and not only Georgian culture. The head of family – Meliton Balanchivadze was one of the first representatives of the new Georgian compositional art, author of the first Georgian romance and opera works, folk mousse, public figure. His children – Giorgi Balanchivadze, the same George Balanchine – was the founder of the American Ballet, and Classic Composer as well.

One of the founders of the National Composing School and the creator of a number of professional genres… Andria Balanchivadze’s extraordinary family, full of amazing charms, established a special micro universe for Georgian society over the years: Pana Balanchivadze, wife – self-taught artist, children: Tsiskari, Soloist of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater – Amiran Balanchivadze – Physicist by profession, amateur artist, vocalist… Jarji Balanchivadze is a many-sided artist… This “microcosm” was periodically viewed – at a joint family exhibitions or musical performances. Jarji Balanchivadze’s field of activity was pianism. His vision was revealed through performances from the very beginning. His concert repertoire featured romantic composers as well as Scriabin. He was the first performer of his father, Andria Balanchivadze’s, compositions. Synthetic art was one of Jarji Balanchivadze’s creative goals. He established the chamber ensemble “Orpheus” for this aim, which developed into a chamber synthetic-musical theater… For the composition of this ensemble, Jarji Balanchivadze created transcriptions of a variety of compositions from the world musical heritage. One of the goals of “Orpheus” was to perform previously unperformed pieces in Georgia… They performed Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” Schoenberg’s “Moon Piero,” Messianic Piano Quartet “The End of the World,” and other works in this manner. The famous pianist Maria Yudina – Jarji Balanchivadze’s teacher, thought he had a composing talent. However, pursuit of multilateral interests prevented this ambition from becoming a reality. Jarji Balanchivadze created pieces periodically. In the 1970s, his works – “Triad for Violin and Piano, Symphonic Picture ” Monument “- received the top award at the Georgian Composers’ Union contests. He has written two symphonies. His chamber compositions have been performed at various times, including those for piano, violin, cello, flute, and piano trio as well. Jarji Balanchivadze collaborated with the German Youth Theater with his ensemble “Orpheus” in the 1980s. He composed music for Ibsen’s works, including “Piergiunt,” “Ghosts,” and “When We, the Dead Awake.” The musician’s diverse interests are evident in his works: his passion for painting, philosophical thinking, depth, and his obvious interest in twentieth-century creative processes. It has been stated that Jarji Balanchivadze’s performing art is distinguished by “French filigree.” The similar characteristic can be found throughout his compositional works. Jarji Balanchivadze often performed with his group and arranged art shows in the USSR and Europe. “Jarji Balanchivadze is highly talented musician, a profound and fascinating creator – full of surprises,” noted the German newspaper “Kelner Stadt Anzeiger.”

Musicologist
Tamar Tsulukidze
English Language Translator
Tamar Kharadze