GIYA KANCHELI

Giya Kancheli is a composer who has authored both symphonic and chamber music. He composed music for the popular films Mimino, and Kin-Dza-Dza! and for the sensational Bolshoi Drama Theatre performance Khanum and others. Music critics have long considered him to be among the "golden reserve" of 20^th century classical music.

Giya Kancheli was born in Tbilisi in 1935 and since 1991 has lived in Europe. In 1995 he served as composer in residence for the Royal Flemish Philharmonic in Antwerp. His musical compositions are performed by musicians from around the world: Yuri Bashmet, Gidon Kremer, Dennis Russell Davies and Edward Brunn to name a few.

Kancheli's works are performed in the best concert halls by in international cadre of musicians. His works have been recorded by the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Helsinki and the State Symphony Orchestra of Georgia. In the Shota Rustaveli theater in Tbilisi he was pioneered for the musical environment for theater through his world-famous music for The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Bertolt Brecht), Richard III, Macbeth and Twelfth Night (Shakespeare).

Kancheli is honored as People's Artist of the USSR, a USSR and Georgian State Prize laureate, winner of the Shota Rustaveli Prize, recipient of the NIKA Film Academy Award, the Order of Honor, winner of the CHAIKA Theatre Award  and the Triumph Prize.

From the book LIFE MUSIC by Alexandra Kremer-Khomasuridze:

“Why do I compose music? If such a question was asked of me 50 years ago, I would have tried to justify my occupation somehow. Now it's too late. Obviously, this is the only thing I can do. Anyway, that's what I think.