Josef Bardanashvili

One of the most prominent Israeli composers.
Born in 1948 in Batumi, Georgia. He studied at the Music Academy in Tbilisi under Aleksandr Shaverzashvili, where he graduated with a Doctor Degree in composition in 1976.
Bardanashvili was Director of the Music College in Batumi (1986-1991), and Culture Vice-Minister in Adjaria (1993-1994), and in this capacity organized numerous international music festivals.
He settled in Israel in 1995.
Bardanashvili served as composer-in-residence of the Raanana Symfonette Orchestra in Israel from 1996-99 and Musical Director of the International Biennial for Contemporary Music "Tempus Fugit" in Israel(2002, 2004,2006).
He taught at Camera Obscura College in 1998-99 and at the Bar Ilan University. Currently he is a faculty member of the Academy of Music at the Tel-Aviv University and the Sapir Academic College.
Josef Bardanashvili has composed more than 80 works.
Amongst them, is author of the first Georgian rock-opera ''Alternative'' (1976), and rock-ballet "Tutor"(1982). He has written 3 operas: "Moving Stars" (2 act opera, libretto by the composer & Dgemal Adgiashvili -1982); Eva (mono-opera, libretto by Aleksandr Parin-1998) and ''A Journey to the end of the millennium'' (2 act opera, libretto A.B.Yehoshua-2004-2005) commissioned and performed by The Israeli Opera; two ballets "A Woman's Ballad" (1972), "Moving Soul" (1991); three symphonies (1980, 2001,2006), concertos for Guitar, Flute, Piano, Violin, concerto for Cello, Piano & small orchestra; Triptych for voices & orchestra ("Children of God" - texts from the Talmud, Quran, New Testament, Book of Psalms, for countertenor & orchestra, (1997); "Yearning" - texts from the Pure Prayer, Blessings, Ecclesiastes for voice & orchestra, (1999);" Time to Love" - texts from the Song of Solomon, Evangelists, Shmuel Hanagid, Nahapet Kuchak for male chorus & string orchestra, (1999); Elegia for string orchestra (1997), Steps and Metamorphoses for small orchestra, Symphonic Poem for clarinet & orchestra (1998), String Quartets, Quintets, Piano Trios, Piano Sonatas, choir music.
He has written music for 35 films and 45 theater productions.

Among his honors are the title of Honored Artist of Georgia (1988), the Paliashvili Award (1987), the ACUM ''Composer of the Year'' Prize (1998), the Margalit Prize (1999, for Dybbuk incidental music), the Award of the Israeli Prime Minister (2000), the ACUM Prize for "Life Achievement" (2002), the Israel Theater Oscar for Music (2003), the ACUM prize-'' Composer of the Year''(2004), the Rozenblum Prize for Performing Arts-Tel-Aviv (2005),the Landau prize(2006). Prize by I.Shtern from Ministry of Absorption (2009)

His numerous compositions had successfully been performed all over the world - in Israel, Georgia, USA, Germany, Russia, France, Spain, Italy, Finland, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro,the UK, by such soloists as Giora Feidman, Yossi Arnheim, Liana Isacadze, Nana Jashvili, Oleg Malov, Alexander Korsantia, Tzvi Plesser, Uri Gandelsman,Viktor Derevianko, and conductors Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Lior Shambadal, Shlomo Mintz, Djansug Kachidze, Gisele Ben-Dor, Uri Segal, Gabor Hollerung, Yerucham Sharovsky ,George Manahan, Zsolt Nagy, Steven Sloan, Joel Sachs, Nizan Leibovich and by orchestras like the Israel Philharmonic, the St.Petersburg Opera Orchestra, Berliner Symphoniker, the Dochnany Orchestra (Hungaria), the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra - IBA, the Rishon le-Zion Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Raanana Symphonette, the Beer-Sheva Sinphonietta, the Musica Nova Ensemble, the Israel Contemporary Players, Ensemble Contempo (USA),New Juilliard ensemble(USA),Continuum(USA) Nouvel Ensemble Moderne(Canada) and in music festivals in Israel and abroad.
bardan@012.net.il
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