Nikoloz Rachveli

His compositions and arrangements have been performed by orchestras including the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Kyiv Camerata, Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre, and others. His album City Lights, recorded with violinist Lisa Batiashvili and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2020, features arrangements and compositions by Rachveli.

• Name — Nikoloz Rachveli • Native Name — ნიკოლოზ რაჭველი • Born — 15 May 1979 • Birthplace — Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — Composer, conductor, arranger, pianist • Education — Tbilisi State Conservatoire University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna • Years Active — 1989–present • Known for — General Music Director of the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra

Nikoloz Rachveli was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. His family originates from the Racha region of western Georgia, from which his artistic surname is derived. He began his musical education at the Tbilisi Mikeladze Music School. His early teachers included Lili Gabunia and Mikheil Shughliashvili. Rachveli later studied composition at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, graduating in 2005 under Georgian composer Bidzina Kvernadze. From 1999 to 2003 he also studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he attended masterclasses with composers including Pierre Boulez, Luciano Berio and Michael Jarrell.

Rachveli's career combines activities as a composer, conductor and performer. He has conducted numerous orchestras in Europe and beyond, including the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra and other international ensembles. As a conductor he has collaborated with artists including Michel Legrand, Sting, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, Kim Kashkashian, David Geringas, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Sergei Nakariakov, Chris Botti, Miloš Karadaglić, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Khatia Buniatishvili, Lisa Batiashvili, Anita Rachvelishvili, Alexander Toradze, Gregory Porter, Paata Burchuladze, Katie Melua, Lisa Fischer. Rachveli has led the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra in performances at venues including the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Konzerthaus Berlin, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia in Saint Petersburg, and the Alte Oper in Frankfurt.

In 2020 the album City Lights was released by Deutsche Grammophon. The recording, featuring violinist Lisa Batiashvili and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, with Rachveli's arrangements based on themes by various composers and own compositions. The project later developed into a concert programme performed internationally.

Rachveli is the founder of the contemporary music festival KONTRAPUNKT in Tbilisi. The festival presents works by Georgian and international composers including Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, György Ligeti, Luciano Berio, Alfred Schnittke, Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt, Valentin Silvestrov, Sulkhan Nasidze, Nodar Mamisashvili, Mikheil Shugliashvili, Natela Svanidze, Josef Bardanashvili, Frangiz Ali-Zadeh, Tigran Mansurian and others. He has also been involved in promoting the works of Georgian composers internationally, including Giya Kancheli. Kancheli expressed appreciation for Rachveli’s interpretations of his music. Rachveli has conducted performances of Kancheli’s works with various orchestras and soloists, contributing to their presentation to international audiences.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Rachveli organised several solidarity concerts with the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra. These included a live-streamed rehearsal in Tbilisi on 24 February 2022 featuring the Ukrainian national anthem. He later conducted charity concerts and fundraising performances supporting Ukraine in Tbilisi and other European cities. He has also performed in Ukraine with ensembles including the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, INSO-Lviv Symphony Orchestra and Kyiv Camerata.

Nikoloz Rachveli is recorded with the occupation conductor. Recorded as conductor and composer.