An Evening of Symphonic Music

The 28th Manana Doijashvili International Festival “New Year Music Celebrations” presents an evening of symphonic music.

On December 9 at 19:00, the Grand Hall of Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire will welcome pianist Giorgi Vachnadze (Georgia–USA), Italian conductor Alessandro Bonato, and the Giya Kancheli Tbilisi Youth Orchestra.

Giorgi Vachnadze (Piano) is the Rector of Tbilisi State Conservatoire and an internationally acclaimed Georgian pianist who has performed extensively with orchestras and in solo recitals across the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Israel.

His performances include appearances at international festivals in Salzburg, Ravinia, Edinburgh, and beyond. He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Paavo Järvi, Gianandrea Noseda, Valery Gergiev, and Jansug Kakhidze. In 1997, he received the Herald Angel Award for his sensational debut at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Alessandro Bonato (Conductor) has served as Chief Conductor of the Haydn Orchestra since the 2025/26 season. At the age of 23, he won third prize at the Malko International Conducting Competition in Copenhagen.

He has conducted leading orchestras in Italy and internationally, including the Filarmonica della Scala, the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and the Warsaw Philharmonic.

He is also active in opera, with engagements at Arena di Verona, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and the Rossini Opera Festival. In 2025, Forbes recognized him as one of Italy's most influential young people under 30.

The Tbilisi Youth Orchestra was founded in 2019. It offers young musicians opportunities to work alongside professional educators, conductors, and soloists on classical, contemporary, and experimental repertoire. Since 2020, the orchestra has carried the name of Giya Kancheli.

This special evening will bring together an accomplished soloist, a young conductor, and an orchestra of talented young musicians on one stage.

🎼 Program

Sergei Rachmaninoff — Piano Concerto No. 3

🎹 Soloist: Giorgi Vachnadze, Piano

Pyotr Tchaikovsky — Symphony No. 1

🎼 Conductor: Alessandro Bonato

🎻 Orchestra: Giya Kancheli Tbilisi Youth Orchestra

📅 Date: December 9, 2026

🕖 Time: 19:00

📍 Venue: Grand Hall of Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire

Address: 8 Griboedov Street

Supporters

The festival's longstanding supporters are the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and Tbilisi City Hall.