Borjomi Festival Goes to France
This weekend the two-week-long Borjomi-Ditzenbach International Festival of Art finished at Georgian southern mountain resort city Borjomi. The event was initiated by famous Georgian violin player Liana Isakadze. Participants from 15 countries, including Finland, France, Estonia, Australia, Russia, Germany, and the United States have participated in the festival.
Separate days were dedicated to solo players Manana and Gia Iashvili (Austria), Gabriel Takinosi (France), Luisa Castelanisi (Italy), Vladimer Skanavi (Russia), German conductor Uwe Berkemer who performed incredibly melodic “Suliko” that has become an unofficial Georgian anthem through years.
Together with classic music, the festival, which was sponsored by the “Georgian Glass and Mineral Water” company, also hosted performances by the folklore groups “Urmuli” and “Lashari”, as well as a play “Marriage of Figaro” performed by the Theatre Cellar and Federico Fellini’s movies “Orchestra Rehearsal” and “Ship is sailing”.
Liana Isakadze’s appearance in Georgia is always a big event for Georgians. This time ambassadors of Israel, Germany, France and Russia also enjoyed her virtuousness. She was awarded a title of Honorary Citizen of Borjomi City.
Russian conductor Nikalay Alekseev called the festival a great celebration and expressed desire to continue work with Liana Isakadze. Ivan Monigetti from Swiss, who impressed the audience with his violoncello playing, was excited with the festival. Attitude of all other participants was the same.
President Shevardnadze paid a special visit to Borjomi to attend closing ceremony. He announced, that the budget would allocate funds to sponsor the festival together with the businessmen in future. Many conceived this statement as an expression of support of culture, but some protested additional spending from the scarce state budget. Under the President’s decision the festival will bear Liana Isakadze’s name.
The International Festival of Art will be held twice a year. In August it will be hosted by France.
By Goga Chanadiri, from Borjomi
