VIRTUOSOS 45. City Lights

An original programme by Lisa Batiashvili and Nikoloz Rachveli

Performers:

Lisa Batiashvili, violin

INSO-Lviv Symphony Orchestra

Nikoloz Rachveli, conductor

A journey in which music becomes a map of the world, and each piece opens a new city, a new atmosphere, a new story. As part of a world tour, the programme unfolds through eleven musical stations, united by deeply personal meanings and impressions, including the music of Charlie Chaplin from “City Lights” and other landmark films.

The programme brings together different eras and styles, from Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Strauss to Michel Legrand and Astor Piazzolla. Here, classical music, jazz, Romani musical traditions, tango, and film music intertwine organically, creating a vivid, emotionally resonant, and multidimensional sonic landscape.

The idea for Lisa Batiashvili’s new album was born in conversation with her friend Nikoloz Rachveli, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra, laureate of the Rustaveli Prize and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Georgia. Both share a deep admiration for Charlie Chaplin: “Chaplin was immensely popular in Georgia when we were children. He was a multifaceted artist, not only an actor and director, but also a composer of beautiful music. For me, he embodies the beauty and creative imagination of the twentieth century.” In this project, diverse genres converge, classical, jazz, Romani music, tango, and film music.

Lisa Batiashvili is widely regarded as one of the leading violinists on the international stage. “Her fearless playing is so tonally rich and technically immaculate” writes The Guardian. A Georgian-born violinist based in Germany, she is celebrated by audiences and fellow musicians worldwide for her virtuosity. An award-winning artist, she has developed long-standing artistic partnerships with many of the world’s leading orchestras, conductors, and musicians.

“No matter where you go or how far you travel, you always retain a special connection to the places that have become part of you. I know these cities not only through their architecture or museums, but from within. I wanted to convey my love for their music, culture, and people, and to show what makes them truly special in a positive and tangible way.”

“This project was entirely different from any other musical work I have been involved in. A violin concerto is usually recorded in two or three days, but here I experienced for the first time what it means to work on a single album for an entire year. The complexity of the creative process and the emotional commitment mean a great deal to me. It was one of the most challenging and fascinating projects of my life, yet at the same time incredibly inspiring, as with each step we were creating something entirely new. None of these pieces had been recorded before, and most had never even been performed.”