Piano Recital: Elisso Bolkvadze

The Pharos Arts Foundation, in collaboration with EMMA FOR PEACE, presents a recital with the remarkable Georgian pianist Elisso Bolkvadze. A superstar in her home country, Elisso was awarded the “Medal of Georgian Government” – one of the most prestigious national honours. She has won numerous international piano competitions such as Van Cliburn Competition (USA), Vianna da Motta (Lisbon), Axa International Piano Competition (Dublin), Marguerite Long Competition (Paris) and she is regularly invited to perform with the world’s most renowned orchestras. A UNESCO Artist For Peace, she has become the first Georgian personality to hold this prestigious title, and she has recently received the prestigious distinction of Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the French government. For her recital in Cyprus, which will take place on Wednesday 13 April 2016 at The Shoe Factory, Nicosia / 8:30pm, Elisso Bolkvadze will perform works by Schubert, Chopin, Debussy and Prokofiev.

PROGRAMME:
SCHUBERT Impromtus D899 (Nos.2,3,4)
CHOPIN Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brilliante, Op. 22
DEBUSSY "L'isle joyeuse"
PROKOFIEV Sonata No.2, Op.14

ELISSO BOLKVADZE piano
Born in Tbilissi, Georgia, in a family of poets and writers, Elisso Bolkvadze began her musical studies at the age of four and she was immediately accepted at Prodigy School. She performed her first concert with orchestra at the age of seven. Elisso has won numerous international piano competitions such as Van Cliburn Competition (USA), Vianna da Motta (Lisbon), Axa International Piano Competition (Dublin), Marguerite Long Competition – “special prize” for the best interpretation of French music (Paris).

A superstar in her home country, Elisso Bolkvadze was awarded the “Medal of Georgian Government” – one of the most prestigious national honours. She is regularly invited to play with international orchestras such as the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Festival Orchestra, Lithuanian National Orchestra, National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Innsbruck Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhaus Orchestra, France National Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and St. Petersburg Philharmonic, amongst others. She frequently appears in such prestigious venues as Salle Pleyel, Salle Gaveau, Théâtre des Champs Elysées (Paris), The Herkulessaal (Munich), Alte Opera (Frankfurt), Kennedy Center (Washington), Pasadena Auditorium (Los Angeles), Theatro Manzoni (Italy), Konzerthaus (Germany), Oriental Center (Shanghai), St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall (Russia), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam).

Elisso Bolkvadze has recorded albums for Sony BMG, performing piano concertos by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Liszt. The French national TV-channel LCI aired a full documentary film about her art, and she regularly appears on Mezzo channel, playing several live performances. She has won great critical acclaim for her unique sensibility, power and sincerity. Her recent CD of the Saint-Saens Concerto No.2, released by the Swiss label Cascavelle, has met great critical acclaim: “Formidable Talent” – The New York Times, “Major Artist” – Los Angeles Times, “Outstanding Sensibility” – Figaroscop, “Brilliant virtuosity and chic personality” – Classical Magazine, “La Prodigieuse Pianiste” – Figaro Magazine, “The Piano Princess in Georgia ” – Music Lover China, “Bolkvadze’s undeniably sensitive playing moves note to note” – Gramophone.

Most recently, Elisso founded the charity foundation “LYRA” for promoting talented young Georgian pianists. In March 2014, a charity concert was held with the United Nations Orchestra in the Victoria Hall, Geneva, for supporting Georgian children who have suffered from war. She is also the founder of the international music festival, Batumi MusicFest, in Georgia. In January 2015, Elisso Bolkvadze was appointed a UNESCO Artist For Peace, becoming the first Georgian personality to hold this prestigious title, and in October 2015, she received the prestigious distinction of Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the French government.

The concert is co-organised with EMMA FOR PEACE: EMMA for Peace, or the Euro Mediterranean Music Academy, is a non-profit global umbrella organization for music diplomacy and education: a network of music institutions, universities and philanthropic foundations brought together in the shared interest of music and the promotion of peace in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. For more information: www.emmaforpeace.org

Tickets: €15 / €10 Concessions & members of the Pharos Arts Foundation, Box Office: Directly from the Foundation’s website www.pharosartsfoundation.org/Tickets_online.htm or Tel. 9666-9003 (Monday - Friday 10:00am-3:00pm)