Experience a powerful evening of music as Orchestra for People presents Azarashvili, Mozart and Elgar on
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at
7:30pm at
NYC’s Merkin Hall. Under the baton of conductor
Hahnsol Kim, the program introduces a vibrant dialogue between Georgian and European masterworks, featuring acclaimed soloists
Sandro Sidamonidze (cello) and
Sam Boutris (clarinet) in a bold and moving lineup that bridges centuries and continents.
A highlight of the evening is the U.S. Premiere of Vaja Azarashvili’s Cello Concerto, performed by Sidamonidze. This concert introduces American audiences to one of Georgia’s most significant contemporary voices, music noted for lyricism, clarity, and emotional depth. Also featured are Mozart’s iconic Clarinet Concerto with Sam Boutris, the dramatic Symphony No. 40, and Edward Elgar’s virtuosic Introduction and Allegro for Strings.
Orchestra for People: Mozart, Elgar & Azarashvili
Merkin Hall, 129 West 67th Street, New York
Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30 PM
for tickets ($15-$25), call 212.501.3330 or visit Merkin
for more info, visit Hahnsol Music Group
Complete Program:
VAJA AZARASHVILI – Cello Concerto (U.S. Premiere)
W.A. MOZART – Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622
Intermission
W.A. MOZART – Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
EDWARD ELGAR – Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47
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Vaja Azarashvili (1936–2024) was a leading figure in Georgian classical music and part of the generation of composers who emerged in the Soviet Union during the 1960s. Influenced early by his father, a folk musician, Azarashvili developed a deep connection to Georgian ethnic music and poetry, shaping his lyrical and improvisational style. He studied composition at the Tbilisi College of Music and the Tbilisi State Conservatory, completing both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. His breakthrough came in 1969 with the premiere of his Cello Concerto No. 1, performed by Eldar Issakadze, which brought him widespread acclaim across the Soviet Union and Europe. Renowned for his concertos—he wrote seven—Azarashvili was also celebrated for his chamber music, including sonatas, quartets, and works for chamber orchestra. In the 1970s, he expanded into vocal music, composing operettas, song cycles based on classical Georgian poetry, and many popular songs, often dedicated to his beloved Tbilisi. A longtime professor at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, he was honored with numerous awards, including the title of People’s Artist of Georgia. Vaja Azarashvili passed away in 2024 at the age of 87.
