Vaja Azarashvili
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Vaja_Azarashvili.jpg/220px-Vaja_Azarashvili.jpg)
Pianist
Teacher
Vaja Azarashvili (Georgian: ვაჟა აზარაშვილი; 13 July 1936 – 7 February 2024) was a Georgian composer, pianist, and teacher.[1] He was notably an Honored Worker of Art (1979), a People's Artist of the Georgian SSR [ka] (1988), a Knight of the Order of Honor (1998) and an Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi.[2][3]
Biography
Azarashvili was born in Tbilisi. His father, Shalva Azarashvili, was enthusiastic about folk music. Vaja attended the Tbilisi State Conservatoire under the tutelage of Aleksandre Shaverzashvili [ka] and Iona Tuskiya.[4] He earned his post-graduate degree in 1961 under the direction of Andria Balanchivadze. He then taught at his alma mater and notably chaired the Union of Composers of Georgia [ka] from 1998 to 2007.[5] He had one daughter, Natia Azarashvili.[6]
In 1969, Azarashvili created a concerto for cello and the chamber orchestra. He expanded his repertoire in the 1970s and 1980s, venturing into operettas and ballet. In the 1990s, despite the poor economic situation in the newly independent Republic of Georgia, he created symphonic suites and several pieces for piano. He dedicated many songs to his native city of Tbilisi,[7] some of which were performed by the likes of Nani Bregvadze, Giuli Chokheli, Vakhtang Kikabidze,[8][9] Eter Kakulia [ka], Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Merab Sepashvili [ka], Orera [ka], VIA Iveria, and Teatroni [ka]. His personal archives were saved in the Archival Fund of the National Center for Manuscripts [ka].[10] On 22 December 2011, his star was revealed in front of the Tbilisi State Concert Hall.[11]
Vaja Azarashvili died on 7 February 2024, at the age of 87.[12]
Discography
- Важа Азарашвили – Песни Важа Азарашвили (1976)[13]
- Важа Азарашвили / Рамаз Карухнишвили – Грузинская Камерная Музыка (1984)[14]
- ვაჟა აზარაშვილი – სიმღერები (1985)[15]
- ვაჟა აზარაშვილი – მე და ჩემი სიმღერა (1988)[16]
References
- ^ Zubarev, Dmitry (7 February 2024). "Умер писавший для Кикабидзе и Гвердцители композитор Азарашвили". Vzglyad (in Russian). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "ვაჟა აზარაშვილი იუბილარია". Iverion (in Georgian). 13 July 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ Jikashvili, Lela (9 March 2019). ""სიმართლის თქმა მიყვარს... ეს ბევრს არ მოსწონს. რა ვქნა, ასეთი კაცი ვარ... როცა ძალიან მიჭირს, მაშინაც ვმუშაობ"". Kviris Plitri (in Georgian). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "ალექსანდრე შავერზაშვილი". Biographical Dictionary of Georgia (in Georgian).
- ^ "ვაჟა აზარაშვილი". City of Tbilisi (in Georgian). Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
- ^ "ვაჟა და ნათია აზარაშვილები". National Parliamentary Library of Georgia (in Georgian).
- ^ "ვაჟა აზარაშვილი საიდუმლოს გვიმხელს: როდის და რა ვითარებაში დაიწერა სიმღერა "დინამო, დინამო"? რა შუაშია არარატი?". Lelo (in Georgian). 21 November 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "ვახტანგ კიკაბიძე - სუბსარქისის ქარო (1979)". YouTube (in Georgian). 1 January 2016.
- ^ "გულს სანამდე ემღერება". National Parliamentary Library of Georgia (in Georgian).
- ^ "List of the Archives Preserved in the National Centre of Manuscripts". National Centre of Manuscripts. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
- ^ "ვაჟა აზარაშვილის ვარსკვლავის გახსნა". Tabula (in Georgian). 21 December 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "ვაჟა აზარაშვილი გარდაიცვალა". Imedi News (in Georgian). 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Важа Азарашвили – Песни Важа Азарашвили". Discogs (in Russian).
- ^ "Важа Азарашвили / Рамаз Карухнишвили – Грузинская Камерная". Discogs (in Russian).
- ^ "ვაჟა აზარაშვილი – სიმღერები". National Parliamentary Library of Georgia (in Georgian).
- ^ "მე და ჩემი სიმღერა". National Parliamentary Library of Georgia (in Georgian).
External links
- Vaja Azarashvili discography at Discogs
- Vaja Azarashvili at IMDb