Aleksi Davitis dze Machavariani (23 September 1913 – 31 December 1995) was a Soviet and Georgian composer, conductor and pedagogue. He was granted the title of

People's Artist of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. The term is confusingly used to translate two Russian language titles: Народный арти ...

in 1958.

Biography

Aleksi Machavariani was born in Gori,

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

. He graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatory in 1936 and remained there for postgraduate studies. He studied composition under Pyotr Ryazanov. Later he joined the faculty, becoming a professor in 1963. He began his artistic career in 1935. Machavariani produced a number of critically acclaimed plays and ballets, including the ballet "Othello" (1957) and "Hamlet" (~1964), the operas "Mat i Sin" (''Mother and Son'', 1945), "Den moei Rodini" (''Day of My Motherland'', 1954), the symphony "Piat monologov" (''Five Monologues'', 1971; it earned the Shota Rustaveli Prize). He also wrote the music to many theatrical productions, including "Baratashvili" and "Legenda o liubvi"(''Legend of Love''). His output includes among other works also a violin concerto (1950), seven symphonies (1947–1992) and six string quartets (the last in 1993). He was the artistic director of the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra from 1956 till 1958 and directed the Composers' Union of Georgia from 1962 till 1968. His son, Vakhtang Machavariani, was also a composer and conducted his father's works.

Awards and honors

* Honored Art Worker of the Georgian SSR (1950) * Stalin Prize, 3rd class (1951) *

(1958) *

Order of the Badge of Honour The Order of the Badge of Honour () was a civilian award of the Soviet Union. It was established on 25 November 1935, and was conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in sports, production, scientific research and socia ...

(1963) *

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...

(1966) *

Shota Rustaveli Prize The Shota Rustaveli State Prize (created in 1965) is the highest prize awarded by Georgia in the fields of art and literature. The first prize-winners of this prize were Konstantine Gamsakhurdia (writer), Irakli Abashidze (poet) and Lado Gudiashv ...

(1971) *

Order of the Red Banner of Labour The Order of the Red Banner of Labour () was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to the Soviet state and society in the fields of production, science, culture, literature, the arts, education, sports ...

(1973) * Order of Honor (Georgia) (1995)

Discography

As Composer

His son Vakhtang Machavariani conducted several of his works: * * * * *

Notes

References

External links

* * 1913 births 1995 deaths 20th-century composers People from Gori, Georgia Tbilisi State Conservatoire alumni Sixth convocation members of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Seventh convocation members of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union People's Artists of the USSR Recipients of the Order of the Badge of Honour Recipients of the Order of Honor (Georgia) Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Recipients of the Stalin Prize Rustaveli Prize winners Ballet composers Male operetta composers Composers from Georgia (country) Conductors (music) from Georgia (country) Opera composers from Georgia (country) Soviet conductors (music) Soviet film score composers Soviet male composers Soviet music educators Soviet opera composers Burials at Didube Pantheon {{Georgia-musician-stub