Giya Kancheli

Composer

1935–2019

Giya Kancheli (1935–2019) was a Georgian composer, one of the major figures of late-Soviet and post-Soviet music. Author of seven symphonies, operas and many works recognisable by the contrast between fragile silence and sudden avalanches of sound.

The wider public knows him above all for his music for Daneliya's films («Mimino», «Kin-dza-dza!», «Don't Grieve!») and for his long collaboration with the Rustaveli Theatre and director Robert Sturua. His «Styx» and symphonies are performed by leading orchestras worldwide.