Toradze family launches foundation

The family of Georgian composer David Toradze and pianist Alexander Toradze has launched a new foundation to promote Georgian culture and preserve the family’s musical legacy. The Toradze Foundation’s first event will be the Toradze International Festival, presented later this month in collaboration with Georgia’s Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth and the Georgian Chanting Foundation.

When pianist and teacher Alexander Toradze, son of composer David Toradze, died last year, his family, led by his philanthropist daughter Nino Toradze, decided to create the Toradze Foundation in honour of the two artists. The foundation launches with the first annual Toradze International Music Festival, set to take place in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi under the leadership of artistic director pianist Dr Edisher Savitski.

Nino Toradze said: ‘My brother was the most generous-hearted man you could ever hope to meet. That generosity of spirit was joyfully evident in his playing and his commitment to teaching and his many pupils. His family wish to support his legacy by establishing a foundation in his honour that will promote the culture of his birthplace. We are all grateful to the musicians who responded so quickly and with such enthusiasm to our invitation to participate in the Festival.’

The inaugural edition of the Festival will open on 30 May with a concert dedicated to the memory of David Toradze. The festival in close on 7 June with a concert featuring festival patron Maxim Vengerov and pianist Roustem Saitkoulov. Conductor Gianandrea Noseda is also a patron of the festival. Alexander Toradze’s legacy will be celebrated through performances by his former students on 1 June as well as via masterclasses at the Tbilisi State Conservatory throughout the festival.

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