Quick Facts
Biography
Bidzina Kvernadze (Georgian: ბიძინა კვერნაძე), (29 July 1928, Sighnaghi, Georgia, – 8 July 2010, Tbilisi), was a famous Georgian composer.
Bidzina was born in Sighnaghi, the Kakheti region of former Soviet Georgia to Alexander Kvernadze, a pharmacist, and Nino Nadirashvili, a music teacher.
In 1948, Bidzina presented his musical works to Examination Commission, and he was accepted to the Tbilisi State Conservatoire with the highest score. He finished the composition class in 1958, taught by Andria Balanchivadze. In the same year he was accepted as a member of the Union of Soviet Composers.
Among his honors are the title of "People's Artist of the USSR" (1979), the "Z. Paliashvili Prize" (1981, for My Entreaty, Old Georgian Inscriptions and Vocal-Symphonic Poem) and the "Shota Rustaveli State Prize" (1985, Opera "And it was in the eighth year"). He was also named an Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (1995).
Filmography
- 2001 Antimoz iverieli
- 1996 Qva (Short)
- 1995 Tsarsulis achrdilebi
- 1991 Premiera (TV Movie)
- 1990 Omi kvelastvis omia
- 1990 White Banners
- 1985 Ert patara qalaqshi
- 1985 Christmas tree of Neilon
- 1983 Andredzi (Short)
- 1983 Tsigni pitsisa
- 1983 Tsigni pitsisa (TV Movie)
- 1981 Me davbrundebi
- 1979 Salamuras tavgadasavlebi (Short)
- 1977 Data Tutashkhia (TV Series)
- 1977 The Wishing Tree
- 1977 Sikvaruli, khandzari da pompiero
- 1975 Chiriki da Chikotela
- 1967 Qalaqi adre igvidzebs
- 1966 Shekhvedra mtashi
- 1961 Chiakokona
- 1961 Mgeris Borjomis nadzvi (TV Short)
- 1961 Udiplomo sasidzo
- 1960 Levana (Short)
- 1959 Ganacheni
Works
Orchestral
- To the Dawn (symphonic poem), 1953
- Concerto No. 1, piano, orchestra, 1955
- Concerto, violin, orchestra, 1956
- A Fancy Dance, 1959
- Symphony No. 1, 1961
- Seraphita, 1964 (section of Choreographic Stories; may be performed separately as a concert work)
- Concerto No. 2, piano, orchestra, 1966
- Expectation, string orchestra, 1968
- Ceremonial Overture, 1977
- Symphonic Overture, 1984
- Symphony No. 2, string orchestra, 1986
Choral
- Immortality (cantata, texts by L. Chubabria, Petre Gruzinsky), speaker, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971
- Cantata about Georgia (text by Petre Gruzinsky), baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971
- My Entreaty (vocal–symphonic poem, text by Nikoloz Baratashvili), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1974, revised 1977
Vocal
- Old Georgian Inscriptions (text by Giorgi Leonidze), tenor, orchestra, 1978
- Vocal–Symphonic Poem (texts by Eter Tataraidze, folk poems from Georgia), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1979
- Pray, Child (triptych, text by Iakob Gogebashvili), soprano, piano, 2001, revised 2002
Stage
- Choreographic Stories (ballet in 2 acts, scenario by Zurab Kikaleishvili, Guram Meliva, Chukurtma Gudiashvili, after Lado Gudiashvili), 1964 (one section may be performed separately as a concert work: Seraphita)
- Wives and Husbands (operetta in 2 acts, libretto by R. Lezgishvili), 1970
- Berikaoba (ballet in 1 act, scenario by Giorgi Alexidze), 1973
- And it was in the eighth year (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Sturua, after Jacob of Tsurtavi), 1982
- Happier than we (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Sturua, after Ilia Chavchavadze), 1987
Awards
- 1998 - Orden of honour
- 1996 - Honorary citizen of Tbilisi
- 1985 - Shota Rustaveli State Prize
- 1981 - Zakaria Paliashvili Prize
- People's Artist of Georgia