Brilliance on the violin: Lisa Batiashvili

»With heart and technical mastery« – that was the press’s verdict following Lisa Batiashvili’s residency in Bonn. In three concerts, the world-class violinist showcased a wide range, from French chanson to violin concerto and piano quartet. She also brought with her a wealth of music and musicians from her native Georgia.

Her current favourite project kicked things off: »City Lights«, a musical journey through 11 cities from Tbilisi to Rio de Janeiro. These snapshots of the places of her life are charming multimedia compositions: musical arrangements spanning a range of styles are combined with atmospheric video footage, complemented by changes in the soloist’s outfits. »As an artist, I have more than one home« – that was the message Batiashvili sought to convey through this evening and throughout her residency.

She was supported by the Dresden Philharmonic and her compatriot Nikoloz Rachveli. The conductor is also the arranger of most of the works, ranging from Bach to Johann Strauss, Piazzolla, film music from Chaplin’s silent films, and singer-songwriter Katie Melua (who, incidentally, is a Georgian living in the UK).

After the concert, the audience were invited to recreate the many city lights that Batiashvili had brought to life with her violin by lighting sparklers outside the Beethovenhalle. It was a moving evening that had so much to offer both the ears and the eyes.

She was 16 when she performed the iconic violin concerto at one of the most prestigious international competitions, named after its composer, Jean Sibelius. Many years after her triumph there, it remains one of the pieces that define her. For the grand symphonic concert during her residency, she performed it at the Beethovenhalle with conductor Dalia Stasevska. The conductor hails from Ukraine and lives in Finland, married to a descendant of the great composer – an ideal match, as demonstrated by the incredibly sensitive accompaniment under her baton.

Here, Lisa Batiashvili was able to showcase her full range of skills. Hardly anyone weaves such brilliant lines of sound, plays with such directness and intensity, and balances every moment so perfectly. A violin concerto that transforms the mastery of incredible difficulties into an emotional experience.

»There are incredibly talented young musicians in Georgia, but they need all the support they can get. This is my way of giving something back to my country,« says Lisa Batiashvili, explaining what motivates her Batiashvili Foundation. She invited three of the scholarship holders to the Beethovenhalle Studio for the finale of their residency to perform chamber music alongside her friend, the cellist Mark Schumann.

The evening’s appeal lay in the varied line-ups and the blend of European and Georgian music. For instance, violist Giorgi Mardaleishvili played a tango by Astor Piazzolla alongside Sandro Nebieridze on the piano, whilst Batiashvili joined him for a piece by Iosseb Bardanaschvili – a rewarding new discovery. The youngest talent in the group, Tsotne Zedginidze, impressed with one of his own piano compositions. The programme concluded with a piano quartet by Mendelssohn. Batiashvili performed on a par with her young colleagues throughout. It was a particular pleasure to see her, entirely without pretension, in the company of musicians with whom she is happy to share the limelight.