A group of about 20 young German musicians from the Federal Youth Orchestra and the Federal Youth Choir traveled to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, last June. They were quickly captivated by the free and relaxing atmosphere of this Caucasian metropolis.
Cultural Exchange and Music
The German musicians met the next day in a simple room in the center of Tbilisi with a group of young Georgian musicians from the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra and independent music scene singers. They worked to find a common voice and develop a program that brings together two major musical traditions from both countries.
Mirian Kochonashvili, the conductor and artistic director of the project, said: "We Georgians are known as passionate Southerners with raw emotions. But when you listen to German music, you realize that people there are also full of feelings, but they have different ways of expressing them."
Musical Message and Cultural Identity
The Campus Project goes beyond an exciting musical experiment. Mirian Kochonashvili stated that the goal of this project is to bring the classical repertoire of Georgian music closer to international audiences, adding: "We couldn't just play and sing music without reflecting the realities around us."
One of the highlights of the program is a new arrangement by Georgian composer Mika Medinaradze. This piece combines Beethoven's choral work "Europe Stands!" with traditional Georgian songs. Medinaradze said in an interview: "Beethoven remains clearly recognizable, and the polyphonic structures of Georgian music maintain their identity. Together, they create an auditory model of Europe."
Since 2001, the Beethoven Festival in Bonn has hosted the Campus Project as a platform for exchange among young musicians. This project includes countries that are experiencing historical transformation.
Sonke Lentz, the director of the Federal Youth Orchestra, said: "This exchange goes beyond music with personal connections, cultural richness, and important history, and supporting pro-European artists is essential."
Additionally, Tsotne Zedginidze, a young Georgian pianist, has been appointed as the youngest composer in the history of this project, writing the piece "Chmibi: Georgian Fantasy" for piano and chamber orchestra. He will perform this piece in its world premiere in Bonn and then in Berlin.
Lisa Batiashvili, the famous violinist, expressed enthusiasm for Tsotne's work, saying: "This project represents the growing friendship between Germany and Georgia."
