Zakaria Paliashvili - Prelude (1901/03)

Zakaria Paliashvili is the figure in Georgian classical music and perhaps in Georgian music altogether. There&music before or after his "Abesalom And Eteri" and "Daisi", operas from 1918 and 1923, that revolutionized Georgian musical thought and showed everyone Georgia was finally ready to organically integrate Western classical tradition without being in expense of local folklore. But unfortunately, Paliashvili&other works are much less publicized and basically, on a brink of oblivion. For example, recordings of only certain parts of his third opera, "Latavra", are available to wide public. His Georgian version of John Chrysostom Liturgy from 1911 was only first performed by US choir The Capitol Hill Chorale in 2010 and recorded in 2014. So, on this Georgian Piano Music compilation vinyl, we can find 2 small piano pieces composed by Paliashvili reportedly at the dawn of the 20th century when he was studying at Moscow Conservatoire under Sergei Taneev. Though a bit immature, they showcase Paliashvili&strong ear for the melancholic, that will reach its peak in his two evergreen operas. Performed by Lali Mikava