Georgian state ensemble, Rustavi - MANCHESTER. Workshop + concert

Liven up your new year with world famous Georgian state ensemble, Rustavi, visiting Manchester to give a workshop and concert as part of a UK wide tour during February.

WORKSHOP 
18.00-19.30. Doors open 17.30

Suitable for all voices. All songs will be taught by ear, with no need to read music, be an experienced singer, or to know the Georgian language.

CONCERT
20.00-22.00. Doors open 19.40

Seven men from Rustavi will perform a wide range of sacred songs, work songs, and 'city' songs. With Valentine's day in mind, expect a particular focus on songs of love, and traditional wedding songs.

Rustavi
Rustavi are one of the most prestigious Georgian state ensembles, known for their spectacular stage presence and skilled use of both authentic Georgian voicing and Western tuning and timbre.

Founded in 1968 by legendary folklorist, Anzor Erkomaishvili, Rustavi have since created recordings of thousands of Georgian songs and performed more than 8000 concerts in over 80 different countries, including many of the world’s most prestigious stages and concert halls even being invited to perform at the 1990 Oscar presentation ceremony (where their performance upstaged the awards themselves) and, uniquely, at UNESCO’s 60^th anniversary ceremony in Nagoya, Japan. In 2001 they were awarded the UNESCO Pacha Prize for the safeguarding and promotion of Georgian polyphonic singing.

Rustavi’s vast repertoire includes songs from all genres of Georgian polyphonic singing, including sacred songs, works songs, folk songs and dance, in some cases accompanied by traditional Georgian instruments.

GEORGIAN POLYPHONY
Georgia, in the Caucasus mountains, boasts a rich and ancient UNESCO listed tradition of complex polyphony. Like Georgia itself, the music sits at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, yet has its own, truly unique character. It blends challenging, dissonant and microtonal chords with sweet and lyrical close harmonies. Ancient pagan, shamanic ritual songs with soaring liturgical chants. Powerful work songs, rousing wedding songs, and modern, composed songs all continue this music into the present day. Encompassing thirteen regional styles, the music from the east and west of Georgia are quite distinct, with that of the Gurian region on the Black Sea coast being particularly complex, and often including a fourth, yodeling voice, known as krimanchuli.

TICKETS
At Pitchblend we work hard to keep all of our events accessible to as many people as possible, while still adequately compensating our expert music leaders. To that end we are offering a choice of three price bands to suit your means, plus a youth rate. In choosing the appropriate price band, we suggest the following guide:

Supporter: If you can comfortably afford to pay your bills, and more than one or two main holidays each year, please consider paying the supporter rate, which will help us to offer lower cost tickets to those who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Standard: If you can pay all your bills, but don't have a lot of disposable income for discretionary spend, the standard ticket price may be right for you.

Concessionary: For anyone on a low income, in receipt of income based benefits, or who would struggle to pay the standard rate.

Youth: 14-21 years. (Under 14s free, with a responsible adult)

Workshop only £18/15/12/8 Concert only £25/22/20/10

Workshop + Concert £35/30/25/15

As always, if you are keen to attend but cost is a barrier for you, please contact us directly. We aim never to turn anyone away on grounds of cost.

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