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Solidarity with the Georgian cultural scene: the Beethovenfest brings the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra to Berlin’s Museum Island
Press release from 09/21/2026
24 September, 7.00 pm: Concert featuring young musicians from Georgia and Germany – A joint statement in support of democracy and diversity in times of polarisation – Pre-event: Deutsche Welle talk on the situation facing cultural and media professionals in Georgia
On Thursday 24 September 2026, the so-called ‘Campus Project’ of the Bonn Beethoven Festival will bring together young musicians from Georgia and Germany at the James Simon Gallery. Members of the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra, the German National Youth Orchestra and the German National Youth Choir, as well as singers from Georgia, will perform works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Georgian music from the 20th and 21st centuries. The highlight will be the world premiere of a work by the 17-year-old pianist and composer Tsotne Zedginidze.
Further information and tickets (22 euros, concessions 11 euros):
The evening begins at 7 pm with a concert introduction and a panel discussion organised by Deutsche Welle entitled ‘Democracy under pressure? The situation for cultural and media professionals in Georgia’. The focus will be on the increasing restrictions on independent media and cultural professionals, as well as the country’s political and social situation. The discussion will be moderated by Jochen Rosenkranz, Head of Culture & Sports at Deutsche Welle.
The concert begins at around 7.45 pm. Under the musical direction of Mirian Khukhunaishvili, the programme ranges from works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Heinrich Schütz to pieces by Georgian composers. A highlight will be the world premiere of ‘Chmebi: Georgian Fantasia’ for piano and chamber orchestra. This work, commissioned by the Beethovenfest Bonn, was composed by the 17-year-old pianist and composer Tsotne
Zedginidze, who will also be performing at the piano himself that evening.
Alongside Zedginidze, the programme features violinist Benjamin Günst, cellist Lizi Ramishvili and harpsichordist Marija Tamkevičiūtė. The concert, lasting around 80 minutes, brings together different musical traditions and creates a space for encounter and cultural exchange.
Since 2001, the Beethovenfest’s Campus Project has been bringing together young musicians from Germany with up-and-coming talents from a rotating selection of partner countries. Following its inclusion in 2003, Georgia will take centre stage in this international project for the second time in 2026.
Find out more about the Georgia 2026 Campus Project:
https://www.beethovenfest.de/de/magazin/campus-projekt-georgien-2026/298
Venue and time
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Doors open: 6.45 pm
Concert introduction and talk by Deutsche Welle: 7 pm
Concert starts: around 7.45 pm
James-Simon-Galerie, Auditorium
Bodestraße, 10178 Berlin
Tickets: 22 euros, concessions 11 euros
