Bidzina Kvernadze

Bidzina Kvernadze , (29 July 1928, Sighnaghi, Georgia, – 8 July 2010, Tbilisi), was a famous Georgian composer.

Bidzina was born in Sighnaghi, the Kakheti region of former Soviet Georgia to Alexander Kvernadze, a pharmacist, and Nino Nadirashvili, a music teacher.

In 1948, Bidzina presented his musical works to Examination Commission, and he was accepted to the Tbilisi State Conservatoire with the highest score. He finished the composition class in 1958, taught by Andria Balanchivadze. In the same year he was accepted as a member of the Union of Soviet Composers.

Among his honors are the title of "People's Artist of the USSR" (1979), the "Z. Paliashvili Prize" (1981, for My Entreaty, Old Georgian Inscriptions and Vocal-Symphonic Poem) and the "Shota Rustaveli State Prize" (1985, Opera "And it was in the eighth year"). He was also named an Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (1995).

Filmography 2001: Antimoz iverieli 1996: Qva (Short) 1995: Tsarsulis achrdilebi 1991: Premiera (TV Movie) 1990: Omi kvelastvis omia 1990: White Banners 1985: Ert patara qalaqshi 1985: Christmas tree of Neilon 1983: Andredzi (Short) 1983: Tsigni pitsisa (TV Movie) 1981: Me davbrundebi 1979: Salamuras tavgadasavlebi (Short) 1977: Data Tutashkhia (TV Series) 1977: The Wishing Tree 1977: Sikvaruli, khandzari da pompiero 1975: Chiriki da Chikotela 1967: Qalaqi adre igvidzebs 1966: Shekhvedra mtashi 1961: Chiakokona (sung by Lily Gegelia) 1961: Mgeris Borjomis nadzvi (TV Short) 1961: Udiplomo sasidzo 1960: Levana (Short) 1959: Ganacheni

Works

Orchestral To the Dawn (symphonic poem), 1953 Concerto No. 1, piano, orchestra, 1955 Concerto, violin, orchestra, 1956 A Fancy Dance, 1959 Symphony No. 1, 1961 Seraphita, 1964 (section of Choreographic Stories; may be performed separately as a concert work) Concerto No. 2, piano, orchestra, 1966 Expectation, string orchestra, 1968 Ceremonial Overture, 1977 Symphonic Overture, 1984 Symphony No. 2, string orchestra, 1986

Choral Immortality (cantata, texts by L. Chubabria, Petre Gruzinsky), speaker, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971 Cantata about Georgia (text by Petre Gruzinsky), baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971 My Entreaty (vocal–symphonic poem, text by Nikoloz Baratashvili), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1974, revised 1977

Vocal Old Georgian Inscriptions (text by Giorgi Leonidze), tenor, orchestra, 1978 Vocal–Symphonic Poem (texts by Eter Tataraidze, folk poems from Georgia), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1979 Pray, Child (triptych, text by Iakob Gogebashvili), soprano, piano, 2001, revised 2002

Stage Choreographic Stories (ballet in 2 acts, scenario by Zurab Kikaleishvili, Guram Meliva, Chukurtma Gudiashvili, after Lado Gudiashvili), 1964 (one section may be performed separately as a concert work: Seraphita) Wives and Husbands (operetta in 2 acts, libretto by R. Lezgishvili), 1970 Berikaoba (ballet in 1 act, scenario by Giorgi Alexidze), 1973 And it was in the eighth year (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Sturua, after Jacob of Tsurtavi), 1982 Happier than we (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Sturua, after Ilia Chavchavadze), 1987

Awards 1998 – Orden of honour 1996 – Honorary citizen of Tbilisi 1985 – Shota Rustaveli State Prize 1981 – Zakaria Paliashvili Prize People's Artist of Georgia