Khatia Buniatishvili
Encyclopedia
Khatia Buniatishvili is a Georgian
concert pianist
.
in 2004 (Prof. Tengiz Amirejibi).
Buniatishvili dislikes being seen as a child prodigy; she has admiration for many pianists of earlier eras, such as Sergei Rachmaninoff
. She admits to being quite influenced by Georgian folk music. Khatia describes the piano as a "symbol of musical solitude". She chose the piano over the violin despite her perfect pitch. Khatia and her sister learned to play together and she enjoys performing duets with her at home.
She has been regularly invited to take part in various festivals among which: the “Menuhin Festival Gstaad” in 2008, the “Verbier Festival
” in 2003, 2004 and 2011, the “Progetto Martha Argerich
" 2008 in Lugano, the “Gidon Kremer
’s Internationales Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus” in Austria - where she performed among others with Gidon Kremer, the “12th International Music Festival “Elba isola musicale d’Europa” - presided by Yuri Bashmet
, the “Chamber Music Connect the World 2008” at the Kronberg Academy
(Germany), the “Festival Autumn in Tbilissi” where she played with the Tbilissi Symphonic Orchestra, the “Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad” in 2006, “Les nouveaux Solistes aux Serres d’Auteuil (Paris), les Musicales de Compesières (Geneva), the “Musical Olympus International Festival in Saint-Petersburg”, etc.
Khatia Buniatishvili performed also in as prestigious places as in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
, the Salle Gaveau, the Salle Cortot or the Auditorium du Louvre
- recital broadcast on France Musique - at the Salle Garnier in Monte Carlo, the Wiener Konzerthaus
, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Grand Hall of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow State Conservatory
Hall, the Mann Auditorium
in Tel Aviv, the Tbilisi Opera, the Concertgebouw
in Amsterdam, the Rudolfinum in Czech Republic, etc.
She made a US debut performing at Carnegie Hall
's (Zankel Hall) in 2008 where she played Chopin's Concerto No. 2 with the Yale Symphony Orchestra
. Buniatishvili has also played with some famous orchestras: the UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (tour in Europa), the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
(Brahms: Concerto No.2 and Mozart: Concerto No.24), the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Tchaikovsky: Concerto No.1), the Arthur Rubinstein
Orchestra, the Tbilisi State Symphonic Orchestra, among others.
Khatia Buniatishvili is the beneficiary of a scholarship from the BSI Bank. She is now a student at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna
under the tutelage of Professor Oleg Maisenberg
. She is a member of BBC Radio3's New Generation Artists Scheme
. Khatia signed a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment
in July, 2010 and her first recording is scheduled to be released in 2011. Her debut album for Sony Classical shall mark Liszt
’s 200th anniversary, and will include his Sonata in B minor, Liebestraum No 3, La Campanella, Hungarian Rhapsody No 2, and Mephisto Waltz.
Critics have praised her rich imagination, virtuosity and sensitive and mature playing. In particular, famed pianist Martha Argerich
noted that: "Khatia is a young pianist of extraordinary talent. I was impressed by her exceptional pianistic gift, natural musicality, imagination and her brilliant virtuosity."
Gidon Kremer (violin) / Khatia Buniatishvili (piano) / The Kremerata Baltica
ECM New Series / CD
Release date: 20 September 2010
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
concert pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Biography
Khatia Buniatishvili began studying piano under her mother at age 3. She gave her first concert with the Chamber Orchestra in Tbilissi at the age of 6 and started performing abroad at the age of 10. After that, she began a series of concerts in Switzerland, Georgia, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Israel, USA, etc. Buniatishvili graduated from the Tbilisi Central Music School, then entered Tbilisi State ConservatoryTbilisi State Conservatory
Tbilisi State Conservatoire is the State Conservatoire of Georgia, located in the capital Tbilisi.-History:The Tbilisi Conservatoire was founded on 1 May 1917. It was formally recognised by the Russian Musical Society as a conservatoire later that year. A rival conservatoire was also founded in...
in 2004 (Prof. Tengiz Amirejibi).
Buniatishvili dislikes being seen as a child prodigy; she has admiration for many pianists of earlier eras, such as Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
. She admits to being quite influenced by Georgian folk music. Khatia describes the piano as a "symbol of musical solitude". She chose the piano over the violin despite her perfect pitch. Khatia and her sister learned to play together and she enjoys performing duets with her at home.
She has been regularly invited to take part in various festivals among which: the “Menuhin Festival Gstaad” in 2008, the “Verbier Festival
Verbier Festival
The Verbier Festival is an international music festival that takes place annually for two weeks in late July and early August in the mountain resort of Verbier, Switzerland.Founded by Swedish expatriate Martin T...
” in 2003, 2004 and 2011, the “Progetto Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich is an Argentine pianist.-Early life:Argerich was born in Buenos Aires and started playing the piano at age three...
" 2008 in Lugano, the “Gidon Kremer
Gidon Kremer
Gidon Kremer is a Latvian violinist and conductor. In 1980 he left the USSR and settled in Germany.-Biography:Kremer was born in Riga to parents of German-Jewish and Latvian-Swedish origins. He began playing the violin at the age of four, receiving instruction from his father and his grandfather,...
’s Internationales Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus” in Austria - where she performed among others with Gidon Kremer, the “12th International Music Festival “Elba isola musicale d’Europa” - presided by Yuri Bashmet
Yuri Bashmet
Yuri Abramovich Bashmet is a Russian conductor and violist.Direct patrilineal descendant of Besht.-Biography:Yuri Bashmet was born on 24 January 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in the family of Abram Borisovich Bashmet and Maya Zinovyeva Bashmet . "Father's mother, Tsilya Efimovna, studied singing at the...
, the “Chamber Music Connect the World 2008” at the Kronberg Academy
Kronberg Academy
Kronberg Academy is an international cultural institution based in Kronberg im Taunus, Germany, for the education and support of highly gifted young violinists, violists and especially cellists. Studies are supported by a biennial Cello Festival and the International Pablo Casals Cello Competition...
(Germany), the “Festival Autumn in Tbilissi” where she played with the Tbilissi Symphonic Orchestra, the “Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad” in 2006, “Les nouveaux Solistes aux Serres d’Auteuil (Paris), les Musicales de Compesières (Geneva), the “Musical Olympus International Festival in Saint-Petersburg”, etc.
Khatia Buniatishvili performed also in as prestigious places as in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
, the Salle Gaveau, the Salle Cortot or the Auditorium du Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
- recital broadcast on France Musique - at the Salle Garnier in Monte Carlo, the Wiener Konzerthaus
Konzerthaus, Vienna
The Konzerthaus in Vienna was opened 1913. It is situated in the third district just at the edge of the first district in Vienna. Since it was founded it has always tried to emphasise both tradition and innovative musical styles.In 1890 the first ideas for a Haus für Musikfeste came about...
, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Grand Hall of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow State Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
Hall, the Mann Auditorium
Frederic R. Mann Auditorium
Fredric R. Mann Culture Center, commonly referred to as The Culture Palace, is a performing arts venue in Tel Aviv, Israel, which was opened in 1957 at Habima Square.It is home to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra....
in Tel Aviv, the Tbilisi Opera, the Concertgebouw
Concertgebouw
The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
in Amsterdam, the Rudolfinum in Czech Republic, etc.
She made a US debut performing at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
's (Zankel Hall) in 2008 where she played Chopin's Concerto No. 2 with the Yale Symphony Orchestra
Yale Symphony Orchestra
The Yale Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra at Yale University which performs in Yale's Woolsey Hall and tours internationally and domestically. The present Music Director is Toshiyuki Shimada.-History:...
. Buniatishvili has also played with some famous orchestras: the UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (tour in Europa), the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is the leading symphony orchestra in Israel. It was originally known as the Palestine Orchestra, and in Hebrew as התזמורת הסימפונית הארץ ישראלית The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit...
(Brahms: Concerto No.2 and Mozart: Concerto No.24), the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Tchaikovsky: Concerto No.1), the Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
Orchestra, the Tbilisi State Symphonic Orchestra, among others.
Khatia Buniatishvili is the beneficiary of a scholarship from the BSI Bank. She is now a student at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna
University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna
The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna is an Austrian university located in Vienna, established in 1819.Today, with a student body of over three thousand, it is the largest institution of its kind in Austria, and one of the largest in the world.In 1819, it was established by the...
under the tutelage of Professor Oleg Maisenberg
Oleg Maisenberg
-Early life and career:Born 29 April 1945 to a Jewish family in Odessa, Oleg Maisenberg received his first piano lessons from his mother at the age of five. He completed his studies at the Central Music School Kishinev and at the Gnessin Institute in Moscow with Professor Jocheles...
. She is a member of BBC Radio3's New Generation Artists Scheme
BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme
BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme was devised by BBC Radio 3 Editor Adam Gatehouse and launched in 1999. It exists as part of the BBC's commitment to nurture young musical talent. Every autumn six to seven young artists who are beginning to make a mark on the national and international...
. Khatia signed a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
in July, 2010 and her first recording is scheduled to be released in 2011. Her debut album for Sony Classical shall mark Liszt
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
’s 200th anniversary, and will include his Sonata in B minor, Liebestraum No 3, La Campanella, Hungarian Rhapsody No 2, and Mephisto Waltz.
Prizes & Awards
The artistic talent of Khatia Buniatishvili earned her various prizes and awards:- 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (2008): Third Prize winner along with a Special Prize “Best Performer of a Chopin piece” and “Audience Favorite” Prize in Eilat”
- The 3rd Tbilisi International Piano competition (2005): Second Prize winner along with Special Prize “for Artistry” and Special Prize “Best Georgian young pianist”
- A Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award in 2010
Critics have praised her rich imagination, virtuosity and sensitive and mature playing. In particular, famed pianist Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich is an Argentine pianist.-Early life:Argerich was born in Buenos Aires and started playing the piano at age three...
noted that: "Khatia is a young pianist of extraordinary talent. I was impressed by her exceptional pianistic gift, natural musicality, imagination and her brilliant virtuosity."
Recordings
- Hymns and Prayers
Gidon Kremer (violin) / Khatia Buniatishvili (piano) / The Kremerata Baltica
ECM New Series / CD
Release date: 20 September 2010
- Performances are available via social networking sites of Khatia's interpretation of Liszt's Mephisto Waltz, Brahms' Hungarian Dance No.1, and Beethoven's Appassionata. Khatia's famed live recording of Haydn's Sonata No. 33 in C minor at the Rubinstein competition is also online. HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
correspondent Haggai Hirtron noted that "Buniatishvili spurred a transformation into the competition's atmosphere when she played Haydn" and described her playing as the competition's climax.