Tbilisi Conservatory

The History of Tbilisi State Conservatory

Designed by one of Tbilisi’s most distinguished architects, Aleksandre Shimkevich, the Tbilisi State Conservatory opened in 1905, making it the first European-style music school in the Southern Caucasus.

At this time, Tbilisi, one of the world’s oldest cities, was transforming into a European city, which influenced both architecture and the arts. 

The conservatory was named after the Georgian singer Vano Sarajishvili, and has been the premiere centre for concert life in Tbilisi since its opening.

A Description of the Halls in Tbilisi State Conservatory

The building is composed of two halls: one for chamber concerns and one for symphonic concerts.

The small hall has 200 seats, and world-class musicians have conducted concerts on its stage over the years, including Egon Petri, Konstantin Igumnov, Heinrich Neuhaus, Vladimir Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter, and others.

The larger hall, able to accommodate an audience of 500, is home to an Alexander Schuke Potsdam organ, a moving stage, and an orchestra pit, allowing opera productions to be staged.

Over its illustrious history, many world-renowned Georgina musicians have studied at the Tbilisi Conservatory, including Eliso Virsaladze, Manana Doijashvili, Eliso Bolkvadze, Aleksandre Korsantia, Lekso Toradze, Temur Gugushvili, Paata Burchuladze, Makvala Kasrashvili, and Zurab Sotkilava.