Campus concert: Georgia

Georgia in the cultural spotlight – the Beethovenfest 2026 Campus Project brings the country’s younger generation into close contact with up-and-coming German musicians, sending a clear message of dialogue and openness. Members of the leading youth orchestras from both nations combine Beethoven’s works with a cross-section of modern Georgian music.

The commissioned work for the Campus Programme is being composed by 17-year-old Tsotne Zedginidze – described by Lisa Batiashvili as a “once-in-a-century talent”. The concert lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Before the concert, Deutsche Welle invites all concert attendees to a panel discussion on the topic ‘Democracy under pressure? The situation for cultural and media professionals in Georgia’. It begins at 7.00 pm in the auditorium.

Georgia has been in a politically and socially polarised environment for years. Independent and critical media are under pressure, whilst the spread of disinformation and influence campaigns is on the rise. Georgian cultural practitioners also report increasing repression: criticism is punished, in some cases even with imprisonment. The guests will discuss how the situation for cultural and media professionals in Georgia is developing.

The discussion will be moderated by Jochen Rosenkranz, Head of Culture & Sports at DW.

PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME

• Ludwig van Beethoven: No. 7, Allegro from String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131, arr. for string orchestra
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Opening chorus ‘Europa steht!’ from *Der glorreiche Augenblick*, Op. 136 / Georgian folk song: ‘sami atas tselzed meti’, arr. by Mika Mdinaradze
• Georgian folk song
• Mravalzhamieri
• Niko Sulkhanishvili: Daigvianes Heinrich Schütz: Grant us peace, O Lord, and bless our Prince and all those in authority
• Sulkhan Nassidze: Concerto for Violin, Cello and Chamber Orchestra
• Niko Sulkhanishvili: Choral
• Tsotne Zedginidze: Chmebi: Georgian Fantasia for piano and chamber orchestra (world premiere, commissioned by the Beethovenfest Bonn)
• Tsotne Zedginidze: Improvisation on Three Beethoven Bagatelles

PERFORMERS

• Members of the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra, the German National Youth Orchestra and the German National Youth Choir
• Singers from Georgia
• Tsotne Zedginidze, composition & piano
• Benjamin Günst, violin
• Lizi Ramishvili, cello
• Marija Tamkevičiūtė, harpsichord
• Mirian Khukhunaishvili, musical director