BALANCHIVADZE, ANDRIA (1906–1992). Composer, People’s Artist of the Georgian SSR (1957) and of the USSR (1968). The son of Meliton Balanchivadze, Andria studied music in Tbilisi and St. Petersburg. From 1925–1927, he directed the Tbilisi Youth Theater, and from 1927–1931, he worked at St. Petersburg Conservatory. In 1931, he joined the newly established Kote Marjanishvili Theater and later began teaching at Tbilisi Conservatory. In 1941–1949, he directed the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra and co-founded and directed the Georgian Union of Composers. From 1957–1991, he served on the board of the USSR Union of Composers. Balanchivadze broke ground in many genres in Georgian theater and music. He paved the way for Georgian ballet and authored the first Georgian ballet stage production, Mzechabuki, in 1936. Additionally, his First Symphony is regarded as the first Soviet Georgian symphony of significance. Working with the great Vakhtang Chabukiani, he created a series of ballets that combined the Georgian motifs with classical elements. His later works include Mzia (1949), Tskhovrebis purtslebi (1961), Mtsiri (1964), Okros kortsili (1970), and others. Balanchivadze’s numerous symphonies, pianoforte concerts, and compositions for the stage facilitated the development of Georgian classical music and were rewarded with numerous prizes, including the USSR State Prize in 1944 and the Shota Rustaveli State Prize in 1969.

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