Azarashvili Vazha

Azarashvili Vazha (b. July 13, 1936, Tbilisi – February 7, 2024, Tbilisi) was a composer, People's Artist of Georgia (1988) and a Professor (1991).

In 1961, he graduated from the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire (the composition class of Iona Tuskia), and in 1964 he finished his postgraduate studies (under the guidance of Andria Balanchivadze).

He had been teaching since 1961 (at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire since 1971). In 1997–2008, he was the chairman of the Georgian Composers Union.

Azarashvili worked in various genres of musical art (instrumental concerts, chamber music, ballet, operetta, popular music, theatre and film music). His works include: ballet Khevisberi Gocha (A. Kazbegi, 1982, staged in Kutaisi, 1982); operettas The Ninth Wave, Seven Brothers from Gurjaani, The Boy, The Dance Teacher, Solomon Isakich Mejganaushvili, Kakhetians on the Bam; Musical Shoemaker Gabo (1995) (all staged in Musical Comedy Theatre, 1969–1985); 2 symphonies (1966, 1986), concertino for symphony orchestra (1963), Aria and humoresque (1964), concerto for cello (1969), 2 concertos for violin and symphony orchestra (1972, 1973), Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano (1975), Ballad of the Hero Who Did not Return Home (1970); String Quartet (1999) and cycles of quartet pieces: Pictures of the Homeland, Pictures of Old Tbilisi (both 1990); Vocal cycle for poems by I. Grishashvili and Sh. Nishnianidze (1980); His songs Dinamo, Dinamo (the musical emblem of Georgian football), Khevsurian Ballad, Music, It's Raining Again, Time for Worship and many more are widely popular. He is the author of film music (Autumn Sun, directed by Temur Palavandishvili, 1973) and music for more than 40 performances. Azarashvili's creations are characterized by indigenous national style, professional culture and the use of modern compositional techniques.

Azarashvili was the winner of various state awards; Honorable Citizen of Tbilisi (1999), Akhaltsikhe (2013), Sighnaghi (2019). Azarashvili's star was opened in front of Tbilisi State Concert Hall in 2011.

He was awarded with I. Gogebashvili (1998), Z. Paliashvili (2003), Rustaveli (2013), Georgian State (2003) prizes, was the winner of the St. Petersburg International Music Competition (2003). Azarashvili has received the titles of “Knight of Culture” (2013) and “Practitioner of Arts” (2017).

Literature: ბალანჩივაძე ი., შემოქმედებითი პორტრეტის კონტურები, «საბჭოთა ხელოვნება», 1984, № 5; Торадзе Г., Первая работа для балетной сцены, «Советская музыка», 1984, № 10.

L. Kakulia