Davitashvili Meri

Davitashvili Meri (13 March 1924, Tbilisi – 17 February 2014, Tbilisi) was a composer and Honored Artist of Georgia (1979). Winner of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1981).

In 1946, she graduated from the Tbilisi V. Sarajishvili State Conservatoire (composition class of A. Balanchivadze). From 1968 to 1992, she was the secretary of the Georgian Composers’ Union. From 1973 to 2007, she was teaching at the Tbilisi Conservatoire.
Children’s music holds an important place in Davitashvili’s work. She is the author operas: “Kajana” (based on N. Lomouri’s story, 1965, staged at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, 1966), “Natsarkekia” (1972, staged there in 1979); the children’s ballet “The Wedding of the Sun” (1953) and over one hundred children’s songs and song cycles (including “Good Morning”, 1952; “Ana-Bana”, 1976; “The Sun of Georgia”, 1983). Davitashvili’s songs show the deep understanding of the child’s world. The annual Children’s Music Week was founded in 1972, which was named after her in 2010.

Among the composer’s works are also“Poem” for violin and orchestra (1954), “Fantasy” for piano and orchestra (1956), romances based on the poetry of A. Kalandadze (1985–86), etc. The piano piece “Khorumi” (1945) was regularly performed at international piano competitions and became part of the repertoire of many performers.

Davitashvili composed music for over 50 dramatic performances, more than 40 films (including “Manana”, 1958; “Papa Gigia”, 1960), and animated films: “Tsuna da Tsrutsuna”, 1960.

She was awarded the Order of Honor (1997). Honorary citizen of Tbilisi (2010). In 2003, a star bearing her name was unveiled in front of the Kutaisi State Professional Opera and Ballet Theatre.

G. Toradze