GIYA KANCHELI

Composer. People’s Artist of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1980) and of the USSR (1988). Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1976), the Shota Rustaveli Prize (1981), the Nika Cinema Prize (1987) and the Triumph Prize (1998)

Born in Tbilisi, the Georgian SSR (1935). Graduated from Tbilisi State University (Geology Department) and Tbilisi State Conservatory (1963) with Prof. Ion Tuskia (composition). Lived in Berlin (1991–95); now permanently lives in Antwerp, Belgium (since 1995).

Basic compositions: a Music for Those Who Are Live opera, seven symphonies, several dozens of symphonic, choral and chamber pieces for various groups of instruments, as well as music for numerous movies and theatre plays. Chamber music is performed by Yuri Bashmet, Gidon Kremer, Kronos Quartet and other prominent soloists. Many pieces are recorded by world famous Russian and foreign orchestras.