Tbilisi is anticipating a remarkable cultural event — on November 16, the Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre will host the world premiere of “Poems of Saturn,” a large-scale four-movement violin concerto by 20-year-old composer Anastasia Julakidze-Laghize. General rehearsals are already in their final phase, and the capital is preparing to turn a new page in the history of contemporary Georgian classical music.
It is a rare precedent in the classical music world for a work of such scale and depth to be authored by a 20-year-old creator. Anastasia, a third-year student at the Composition and Musicology Faculty of the V. Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire (class of Professor Maka Virsaladze), embodies the versatile talents of a pianist, conductor, composer, and singer. It is this synthesis that defines her unique musical signature.
The main inspiration for the piece was the poetry of French symbolist Paul Verlaine (Poèmes saturniens). As the author herself notes, the music explores the inner human world and feelings that are often impossible to express in words:
“I didn’t want the music to tell a specific story or dictate a predetermined emotion to the listener. On the contrary, I wanted to create a world where everyone could find their own story. For me, this is one of music’s greatest powers — it can express what we sometimes cannot even tell ourselves. The symbolism of Saturn, for me, is connected to the very sorrow and beauty felt in Verlaine’s poetry,” notes Anastasia Julakidze-Laghize.
Traditionally, a violin concerto is built on a dialogue between an orchestra and a solo violin, but the young composer breaks established boundaries and introduces a new form to the genre — she adds a choir and solo vocal to the violin and orchestra. Notably, the author herself will perform the vocal part at the premiere. Renowned violinist Veriko Tchumburidze will perform as the main soloist of the piece, while Maestro Soso Jugashvili will conduct the world premiere.
The conductor emphasizes the piece’s complexity and musical maturity:
“This violin concerto demands both technical perfection and a diverse emotional load from the performers. Each movement is full of challenges for the soloist and the orchestra. Georgian folk music motifs are masterfully utilized, but the finale is particularly noteworthy — where, alongside the soloist-violinist and the orchestra, a choir and a vocalist join in. Such an arrangement underlines the grandeur of the work and its core meaning,” evaluates Soso Jugashvili.
The main soloist, Veriko Tchumburidze, also highlights the scale of the premiere:
“The music demands a lot from the performer — both technically and musically. The fourth movement is especially impressive, where the choir joins the orchestra and the piece acquires a completely different scale. Discovering a new piece and sharing it with the audience through your own interpretation is always a special thrill.”
For the composer herself, working with an ensemble of such magnitude at the age of 20 is not only a professional triumph but also a great responsibility:
“The most accurate word is probably gratitude. When the music you have created is brought to life by people whose professionalism you deeply respect, it is a tremendous honor. Realizing a work of this scale at the age of 20 is a significant experience, but the main thing for a composer is the responsibility when you realize that your music no longer belongs only to you. It continues an independent life and must reach the hearts of other people,” adds Anastasia.
The evening will consist of two parts. The first part will be entirely dedicated to the world premiere of “Poems of Saturn,” while in the second part, the audience will hear recognized masterpieces of classical music, brought to life by stars of the Georgian opera stage and young talents. The overture from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” will open the second act. Furthermore, the evening will also become a platform for discovering new names: young vocalists will make their debut on the big stage — Amiran Menognishvili will perform Figaro’s aria (Non più andrai) from Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” and Luka Kapanadze will perform Leporello’s aria (Notte e giorno faticar) from “Don Giovanni.”
The evening’s program brings together Gustav Mahler’s “Urlicht” performed by Irina Sherezadashvili; Richard Wagner’s “Song to the Evening Star” performed by Zaal Khelaia; Saint-Saëns’ aria from “Samson and Delilah” (Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix) again performed by Irina Sherezadashvili, and José’s aria from “Carmen” (La fleur que tu m’avais jetée), presented by Otar Jorjikia. Anastasia Julakidze-Laghize herself will perform Mahler’s “Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen.”
The culminating chord of the concert will be Charles Gounod’s octet and choir, jointly performed by Ketevan Papinashvili, Ketevan Kardanakhishvili, Luka Kapanadze, Amiran Menognishvili, Rati Julakidze, Anastasia Julakidze-Laghize, Irina Sherezadashvili, and Otar Jorjikia. The epic sound of the evening will be ensured by the Opera Orchestra, the Opera Choir, and the vocal ensemble COV (Colors of the Voice).
By the organizers’ decision, the event on November 16 goes beyond the traditional concert format and offers guests a full-fledged socio-cultural experience. From 19:00, as soon as the theater doors open, guests will be welcomed to the Left Blue Hall with a completely new concept, featuring a space specially created for the evening — the “Saturn Bar.”
It is the Left Blue Hall that will become the main center of attraction for the Welcome and the intermission. A contemporary art exposition will be held here, featuring an exhibition and sale of works by artists Irakli Chikovani, Natalia Kutsia, and Giorgi Kikadze. Notably, the initiative carries high social responsibility: the full proceeds from the exhibition will be directed towards educational funding for students in need of financial support.
The final preparations are nearing completion, the rehearsal process is at its peak, and on November 16, the cultural calendar of Tbilisi will be enriched with a new, historic event.
Tickets are available at tkt.ge.
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