Folk-group “Chveneburebi” and the Georgian ballet “Lelo” – Riga

Folk Group “Chveneburebi”

Members of the folk group “Chveneburebi” (Georg. “our folks”) come from different parts of Georgia that helps them to keep the village tradition and manner of singing. Except singing, each member of the group can dance and play various Georgian folk instruments. Each of them can sing all three voices and is distinguished by one’s unique vocal timbre.

“Chveneburebi” regularly arranges folk expeditions in regions of Georgia. The folk-group works on discovering old folk songs, their different variants and introducing them to the society.  They also work on archive records of Georgian folk songs. “Chveneburebi” is successfully travelling abroad. Since the foundation till today members of the group have performed in different countries of Europe and Asia. The repertoire consists of two concert programs: Pure Georgian folk and ethno-musical compositions composed by the group (additionally including the standard drum, keyboard and bass guitar).

Folk-group members at the Festival:

George Gobejishvili first and middle voices, plays all the Georgian folk instruments, ethnic dance. He was born on 17 September, 1979 in the village Chiora, Municipality of Oni, located in the highland region of Racha. After school he entered the State Culture and Arts Univsersity of Georgia, and graduated it in 2000 with the degree of Choirmaster.

Gogita (a hypocoristic of George) has been singing and dancing in ensembles of famous Georgian folk singer and choirmaster Shalva Japaridze in Oni since childhood. In 2003-2004 he was a member of the ensemble of Svetitskhoveli Temple. Since 2001 he is a member and musical director of the folk-group “Chveneburebi”.

Solomon Gogashvili middle voice, bass, plays the Panduri, Bass Panduri and Doli, ethnic dance. He was born on 20November, 1978 in the village Arboshiki, Municipality of Dedoplistskaro in the steppe and under-populated part of Kakheti.

In 1996 Solomon finished the public school of the village Arboshiki. In 2001 he graduated the Faculty of Geology and Geography at the Tbilisi State University (Bachelor of Physical Geography). In 2003 graduated the Faculty of History at TSU (Master of Historical Demography). In 2006 graduated the State Institute of Demographical and Sociological Research of Georgian National Academy of Sciences with a Ph.D degree.

He learned singing in his village in childhood from his family members and neighbours. Since 1997 he’s been singing in folk ensemble “Aragvelebi” (Musical Director – Mamia Bakradze). Since 2001 he is a member and manager of the folk-group “Chveneburebi”

George Sakhokia – first and third voice (bass), vocal technique Krimanchuli (So called yodel), ethnic dancer, plays the Chonguri, Chiboni, Panduri, Bass Panduri and Doli.

George was born on 26 March 26, 1985 in the village Shkhepi, Municipality of Senaki in Samegrelo region. He finished the Public School in 2002, and in 2005-2006 he was studying at the Graz University of Technology (Faculty of Informatics). In 2006 he graduated the Faculty of Informatics at the Georgian Technical University and Faculty of Philology at the Tbilisi State University. And in 2008 George completed his higher education having graduated the International School of Economics at TSU – ISET (MA in Economics).

Since childhood he’s been singing in different choirs of the famous georgian folk singer and bandmaster Otar Berdzenishvili. During the university years he was a member of the folk ensemble of TSU Faculty of History. Since 2007 he is a member and financial manager of the folk-group “Chveneburebi”.

Levan Mikeladze – bass, a multiinstrumentalist. Levan was born on 7 July, 1983 in the village Kulashi, Municipality of Samtredia, Imereti region in the west of Georgia. In 2000 he finished secondary and musical school in Tbilisi. In 2004 he graduated the Tbilisi State Univsersity and got the Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Geology, specializing on Oceanology.

Levan has been singing in the famous children’s folk ensemble “Mdzlevari” since childhood. In 2002-2009 he was working at different TV companies as a sound director, in parallel he was playing in different famous Georgian musical groups. Since 2009 he’s been a member and manager of the musical studio of the group “AstroGeorgia” and a member and sound engineer of the folk-group “Chveneburebi”.

Lela Nakeuri – upper and middle voices, plays the Phanduri, Bass Phanduri, Chonguri and Garmoni. Leila was born on 12 February, 1995, in the village Magharoskari, Municipality of Dusheti, in the highland region of Pshavi. In 2013 she graduated the public school of the village Magharoskari. In 2018 Leila graduated the Shota Rustaveli Theater and Film Georgia State University as a Bachelor, with qualification of Conductor of Georgian Folk Song and Church Music Choirs.

She has been singing and playing Georgian folk instruments since childhood. Since 2018 she is a member of the folk-group “Chveneburebi”.

Vladimer Chaladze – first and middle voices, bass, ethnic dance. Vladimer was born on 28 June, 1985 in the village Lagvanta, Oni, in Upper Racha. In 2002 he finished the school. In 2002 finished Oni public school. In 2005 Vladimer graduated Tbilisi State College of Traditional and Contemporary Arts and got a degree of Choirmaster.

Since childhood he’s been singing in the folk ensemble of Oni (musical director – Shalva Japaridze). After 2004 he is a member of “Chveneburebi”.

The Georgian ballet “Lelo” and Givi Kbilashvili, the soloist

Every dance is unique and tells about different events: weddings, wars, daily life in highland regions and city life. It unites love, courage, competition and beauty. The name of the ballet – “Lelo” – also has its background and is closely linked to national traditions. Since many centuries the Georgian settlement Shukhuti has been home for the ragby-like games called “lelo”. In these games the Upper and the Lower Shukhuti “fight” one against another, and their “war” ball is made of cattle leather and weighs exactly 16 kilograms. Actually, “lelo” is an ancient Georgian battle-cry, meaning “score a hit with force”. According to one of the versions, the game is dedicated to the memory of those, who lost their lives during the war between the Georgians and the Turkish. It is in Shukhuti where the main battle took place, and Georgian warriors scored a victory in 1855.

Georgian folk dances strike with their ingenuity and brightness, incredible flame and fabulous costumes, with entwinement of history and art. Lively dances give great pleasure as to spectators, as to dancers themselves. It is in the dance where the folk’s soul opens best.

Givi Kbilashvili, “Lelo” choreographer and soloist, was born and grew in Tbilisi. In the words of Givi, originally it was his mom who had the wish to give him to a dance school. And it was not an accident choice – since the age of three Givi was asked to dance something, and as a child he felt already that he was going to be an artist and unquestionably would perform on stage. At the age of twelve Givi Kbilashvili started doing choreographed dancing at a dance school, at the age of fifteen he won the prize of Georgia, and at the age of sixteen he entered Vakhtang Chabukiani Tbilisi Ballet State School. Approximately at the same time Givi Kbilashvili started dancing at Sukhishvili Ballet Art School, where he worked hard on dance technique, which allowed him to become a member of the famous ensemble “Sukhishvili”. Givi Kbilashvili gives a lot of performances on a tour abroad, dances with the best Georgian folk dance groups, including “Metekhi”, the Royal national ballet of Georgia, and the folk dance group “Sukhishvili”.

Today Lelo has made significant artistic progress – the dancing team is developing dynamically and is desired at global level. Not surprisingly that the ballet goes on tours so much – all the members are fully devoted to their favourite business, are constantly in the state of creative research, improving their artistry. Givi Kbilashvili is strict and responsible in selection of artists, because prowess is the key to success of the whole team. Within the framework of the Festival, in the joint artistic project with the folk-group “Chveneburebi” the following wonderful dancers will perform: Zurab Parjanadze and Maka Jaganishvili and Gvantsa Melitauri, the female soloists.

Tickets can be purchased:

• on Biļešu Serviss website www.bilesuserviss.lv,
• at Biļešu Serviss ticket desks around Latvia,
• at the concert hall before the concert.