Legendary Erissioni in Kyiv
On Oct. 26, 2009, Erissioni, the Georgian State Academic Ensemble of Folk Song and Dance, performed in Kyiv. The concert was timed to the 15th anniversary of the Georgian Embassy in Ukraine.
The ensemble’s history dates back to 1885. Initially, this was an amateur choir that sang folk song and later they started doing folk dances. The group’s main goal is to collect, revive, and popularize unique folk songs and dances. Interestingly, in 1976 the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Voyager Global Exploration and sent into the outer space the song Tchakrulo, performed by Erissioni, as an example of humankind’s musical abilities. Besides, the song was included in the Golden Record (France, 2002), where it was placed only second after the song Barcelona performed by Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury.
Audiences in many countries applauded the performers. Among the artistic successes of the ensemble is a show called Legend of Queen Tamar and Legend of Georgia, which conquered the hearts of millions of Europeans. At the moment, Erissioni is directed by Jemal Chkuaseli, who works on the ensemble’s repertoire together with its chief choreographer Revaz Chokhonelidze.
The Kyiv program saw compositions reflecting the colors of different corners of Georgia, with national history plots and present time interlacing in a marvelous way. Nearly 100 performers showed their mastery in wonderful dances, music, and songs supplemented by stunning costumes and decorations, as well as fantastic lighting and sound, which turned the show into a triumph of the Caucasian culture on the Ukrainian stage.
