In 1990, the world was optimistic after the autumn of the Berlin Wall and the tip of the Cold War. The Georgian State Chamber Orchestra, based in 1964 within the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, is having fun with the liberty to journey – and making a visitor look on the famend Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in northern Germany. The completed string ensemble makes music with classical music greats like Justus Frantz, the competition’s inventive director, and conductors George Solti and Kurt Masur.
But the competition, sponsored by Audi ArtExperience since 1988, is overshadowed. Political tensions are rising within the Georgian homeland towards the backdrop of the Soviet Union’s disintegration. Audi in Ingolstadt takes the initiative by approaching the then-mayor of Ingolstadt, Peter Schnell, and a call is shortly made. The metropolis affords the orchestra exile on the Danube and relocation to Bavaria, with Audi’s help.
A secure harbor for the Georgians
“It was a win-win situation for both sides,” says flutist Ariel Zuckermann, who’s now the orchestra’s inventive director and conductor. “Ingolstadt didn’t have a classical orchestra at the time – and the Georgians had a new safe home. They were given an initial two year contract, and the first ensemble members brought their families to Bavaria.” As nicely as AUDI AG, the town of Ingolstadt and the native financial savings financial institution have been companions within the association. And it grew to become a hit story: the performances of the “Georgians,” particularly the subscription concert events held since 2001, recorded persistently excessive attendance figures, and the town prolonged its contract with Audi. At the identical time, the political turmoil within the misplaced homeland intensified – Russia’s assault on Georgia in 2008, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and now the horrible invasion of Ukraine – has both shaken and strengthened the musicians’ Eastern European confidence.
A singular character – preserved even in exile
But, considered within the mild of day, the brand new life in Bavaria is nothing apart from a continuation of the previous underneath completely different situations. Continuity is a precept of the orchestra, which has at all times preserved its character, even in exile. Many musicians from Georgia and Eastern Europe nonetheless play within the ensemble. Just now, with a recording of the “Fire Dance” by the Azerbaijani composer Kara Karajev, performed by Ariel Zuckermann, they’ve as soon as once more proven the place the center of the “Georgians” beats. You can watch a shifting trailer on YouTube.
Artistically, the orchestra was considerably influenced by its long-time chief, violinist Liana Issakadze, in addition to personalities like conductors Yehudi Menuhin and Kurt Masur. Markus Poschner led the ensemble from 2000 to 2006. He was adopted till 2011 – and once more from 2021 – by the Israeli-born Ariel Zuckermann. In the meantime, the Los Angeles-born Benjamin Shwartz and the Armenian Ruben Gazarian took the rostrum. A phalanx of excellent worldwide inventive personalities, together with David Oistrakh, Barbara Hendricks, Svjatoslav Richter, Daniil Shafran, Heinrich Schiff, Gidon Kremer, Edita Gruberova, Giora Feidman, and Christian Zacharias, have carried out with the ensemble.
A cultural ambassador of the town of Ingolstadt
On location in Ingolstadt, the “GKO” feels accountable not solely for a broad repertoire, from baroque to trendy, but additionally as the town’s cultural ambassador. Around 90 concert events yearly take the orchestra to music festivals, both in Germany and overseas. And on the Audi Summer Concerts, the favored Audi ArtExperience occasion sequence, the ensemble has been a fixture for years. In its super versatility, the orchestra consistently retells its story, uniquely enriching Ingolstadt’s musical panorama.
Today, the “GKO” has round 20 members – plus visitor musicians. And it’s multinational, with Germans, Spaniards, French and Asians – but additionally with a core of Georgian artists. “There is a passion that is still there,” says conductor Zuckermann. “Temperament, virtuosity, warmth, energy – these are the qualities that characterize my orchestra. That can play everything from baroque to classical to romantic to modern, even to world music and jazz.” Alexander Konjaev, the principal second violinist, has performed with the GKO since 2004. He grew up in Georgia with German roots and attests: “It is this special joy of playing that distinguishes us. And the passion for the great Eastern European musical heritage. I experienced one of my very personal highlights at a performance in Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie in March 2018. As part of the ‘Caucasus Festival’, we were the first chamber orchestra to play in this beautiful hall.”
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