About

David (Guguli) Toradze, patronymic Alexander (1922-1983) – Georgian composer, Professor of Tbilisi State Conservatoire, People’s Artist of Georgia. David Toradze, an exceptional musical talent since his childhood, simultaneously studied piano and composition in a group of talented children at The Tbilisi Conservatoire under Professors A. Virsaladze and S. Barkhudariani. Between 1939 and 1941, Guguli perfected his art of composition under composer R. Glière at The Moscow Conservatory. Toradze begun actively composing in 1940s. His first symphony premiered in 1946 and his first opera in 1947. Toradze’s acclaimed ballet Gorda received its premiere in 1949 and was immediately recognized as an important landmark in the Georgian musical and choreographic art. The ballet was successfully staged in Moscow, Hungary, Poland, at the International Ballet Art Festival in Paris and in various countries around the world. The ballet For Peace created on the theme of the Second World War achieved the same success. Subsequently, the audiences warmly welcomed composer’s new opera Bride of the North presented at the Decade of Georgian Art and Literature and dedicated to the history of A. Griboedov and N. Chavchavadze.

In 1977, David Toradze created music for the film-ballet Mtsyri. In the same year, it was staged and directed by the famous ballet master Mikhail Lavrovsky and went on to win the Grand Prix at the prestigious International Ballet Film Festival in New York. Among the abundance of creative work of David Toradze are further two symphonies, an overture Rokva, a cycle of choral poems Georgian Sketches, a piano concerto to mention but a few.

Toradze’s musical scores for songs and film music have been the staples of Georgian culture since their creatio. Among the most noteworthy are: The first day – the last day, Paliastomi, A meeting with the past and Is a man a human?!.

Whilst Toradze was a prolific composer he was also a gifted teacher who taught at The Tbilisi Conservatoire from1953 until 1973. David Toradze was awarded various awards, among them the Laureate of the State Prize.

Married to Liana Asatiani, a renowned film actress and Honored Artist of Georgia until his death; children – Alexander (Lexo) Toradze,one of the world’s most illustrious pianists and their devoted daughter/Sister, a musician in her own right, Nino Toradze.