TSINANDALI FESTIVAL PRESENTS SEVENTH EDITION
IN HEART OF GEORGIAN WINE COUNTRY
ZUBIN MEHTA, KENT NAGANO & GIANANDREA NOSEDA CONDUCT THE FESTIVAL’S RESIDENT
PAN-CAUCASIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA
4 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ©Tsinandali Festival
· Zubin Mehta makes a welcome return to Tsinandali after previously conducting gala launching the Festival and inaugurating its main auditoria
· Kent Nagano makes his Festival debut
· Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra (PCYO), drawing young musicians from across the Caucasus, performs with both conductors and its Music Director Gianandrea Noseda
Today the Tsinandali Festival announces its seventh edition, running from 4 – 14 September 2025. The Festival is situated in the heart of Georgia’s wine country at the historic Tsinandali estate. Led by the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra, it attracts remarkable conductors and soloists, promoting the universal language of music at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Since the Festival’s founding the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra has been at its heart, bringing together young musicians from across the Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. These aspiring professionals are given the opportunity to learn from internationally renowned conductors, coaches and soloists in a four-week residential orchestra training programme culminating in performances at the Festival itself. The PCYO has been resident at the Tsinandali Festival since its inception, fostering understanding and collaboration and transcending cultural barriers.
Gianandrea Noseda opens the 2025 edition of the Festival with the PCYO, conducting Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Behzod Abduraimov and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 [4 September]. Noseda then returns to lead a programme of Brahms’ Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with Marc Bouchkov and Mischa Maisky [7 September]. Esteemed American conductor, Kent Nagano, makes his Festival debut conducting Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with soloist Nikolai Lugansky and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 [10 September]. The finale of the Festival sees legendary conductor Zubin Mehta returning with a programme of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with soloist Pablo Ferrández and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, bringing the Festival to a moving close [14 September].
As well as orchestral programmes, the seventh Tsinandali Festival includes extraordinary chamber music concerts with a host of leading musicians coming together in the stunning setting of the historic Tsinandali estate to create something unique and life-affirming.
Soloists include pianists Behzod Abduraimov, Alexandra Dovgan, Giorgi Gigashvili, Nikolai Lugansky, Julien Quentin, András Schiff and Tsotne Zedginidze; violinists Marc Bouchkov, Michael Guttman, Daniel Lozakovich and Yamen Saadi; cellists Pablo Ferrández Mischa Maisky and Jing Zhao; double bassist Brendan Kane and viola Sara Ferrández.
The Jerusalem Quartet make their Tsinandali Festival debut alongside regular visitors such as the Georgian National Ballet who make their annual return to the Festival.
All programmes are curated by the Festival’s joint Founders & Artistic Directors, Martin Engstroem and Avi Shoshani.
Martin Engstroem and Avi Shoshani comment:
“We’re delighted to welcome our dear friends Zubin Mehta and Kent Nagano to the Tsinandali Family! Their concerts will be undoubted highlights – two among many that include many returning friends. The seventh edition of the Tsinandali Festival comes at a time when its messages of understanding and collaboration are more vital than ever. Bringing together the gifted young musicians of the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra and helping them develop under some of the most admired classical musicians in the world fosters a culture of education and peace. As ever, the Tsinandali Festival and everyone associated with it is indebted to the vision and support of George Ramishvili and his team.”
George Ramishvili, Chairman of the Silk Road Group & Chairman and Founder of the Tsinandali Festival, comments:
“Tsinandali Festival is a cultural event of the highest quality where the most prominent musicians, conductors, and soloists gather at the magnificent grounds of the historic Chavchavadze Estate. And it is also a unique place where the 15-year-old Tsotne Zedginidze meets the legendary Zubin Mehta, where the musicians of the PCYO meet the luminaries of the music world – Gianandrea Noseda, Kent Nagano, and Andras Schiff.
I believe that Alexandre Chavchavadze, the owner and founder of the Tsinandali Estate, would be very pleased with the celebration of music, culture and friendship, accompanied by Georgian wine and hospitality, which is what the Tsinandali Festival is all about.”
Yerkin Tatishev, Founder and Board Member, comments:
“The Tsinandali Festival attracts today’s most talented classical musicians as well as the rising stars of tomorrow amidst the spectacular scenery of Kakheti. This is music making at the highest level of which everyone involved can be proud.”
David Sakvarelidze, General Director of the Tsinandali Festival, comments:
“Some of the world’s finest musicians originate from Georgia and the surrounding region, influencing in turn artists far and wide. The Tsinandali Festival builds on this foundation of artistic excellence by nurturing rising classical music stars, enabling them to perform with established professionals in an unforgettable setting.”
For more information on the festival please visit https://tsinandalifestival.ge/