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The Georgia-born pianist, Catherine Gordeladze, had her first piano lesson when she was 6 years old from Professor Nelli Gatchechiladze at the Central Music School in Tiflis. At the tender age often she gave her first piano recital. She made her debut with symphony orchestra at the age of 11, playing L.v. Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto (in C minor) with the Georgia Philharmonic. In 1982 she took part in an Anniversary Concert at the Tbilisi Opera House that was broadcast live on television throughout the former Soviet Union. In 1987 she won the 1st prize at the State Competition for Young Talent in Tbilissi. In 1989 she enro1led at the Tbilissi Central Music School, Tbilissi State conservatory, studying under one of the most famous teachers in Georgia, Professor Nodar Gabunia, a pupil of the legendary pianist and educator Alexander Goldenweiser. She finished her studies with distinction in 1994. After completing her studies she was taken on as an assistant at the Tbilissi Conservatory and was a soloist for the Georgia Philharmonic from 1994 to 1996.
From 1997 Catherine Gordeladze continued to complete her training as a scholarship holder of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, Franz Grothe Foundation and the Frankfurt am Main "Old Opera House" Rotary Club, as a pianist under Professor Bernhard Wetz and chamber music under Professor Rainer Hoffmann at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt am Main. She graduated in 2001 with distinction and was admitted to the Concert Examination. She also studied under Professor Rolf-Dieter Arens at the Academy of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, graduated with a concert diploma. She has been attending a number of master-classes under Bernd Glemser, Wladimer Krainew, Paul Badura-Skoda, Peter Feuchtwanger, Joachim Volkmann, Irina Edelstein, Bernard Ringeissen, Konstantin Scherbakov, Rudolf Kehrer, M. Proenza and others. Having become a pupil of Maestro Alexis Weissenberg and benefitting from his long-standing instruction has significantly influenced her artistic development. In 1999 she was 3rd prize-winner at the VI European Chopin Piano Competition in Darmstadt. In 2000 she was accepted by the 'Young Musicians' Podium' Foundation.
Catherine Gordeladze has earned critical acclaim as a recitalist, orchestral soloist and chamber musician. Her concert activity includes participation in major festivals, radio or TV broadcasts in Georgia (several TV and radio broadcasts), in the former Soviet Union (TV broadcast on the first channel), in the Czech Republic (Radio Free Europe from Prag), in Germany (Hessen TV, Radio HR2, Radio Bavaria, German Radio Berlin) and in Switzerland (Radio DRS 2) as well as recitals, orchestral performances in Georgia, Russia, Yugoslavia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. She has worked with many leading orchestras. This has included playing under conductors like R. Takidze, T. Djaparidze, A. Serow, M. Blasczyk and R. Seehafer.
In August 2000 Catherine Gordeladze appeared as a guest at the International 'Schloss Hundisburg' Festival. In December 2000 she gave a concert with the 'Young Europe Philharmonic' in Frankfurt's Katharinenkirche church entitled 'For a Better Life Together', which was weIl received by the press and the public. In 2002 she won the 1st prize in the IV International Music festival in Dietzenbach (Germany). In the same year she received the "Prize d' Honneur", and in 2003 a Medal from the world famous French "Légion d'Honneur" in the noted master-classes by Maestro Alexis Weissenberg in Engelberg (Switzerland). The Final concert was broadcast by the Swiss Radio DRS2.
The Zeitung fürs Dresdner Land called her Concert an "Exellent piano recital". Klaus Füller wrote in the The Frankfurter Rundschau about J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations: "With a phenomenal technique, a perfect memory and distinctive creativity, she plugged into the virtuoso work and transformed it into a piano spectacle that made the more than half hour seem short to the breathless audience – without doubt: Catherine Gordeladze is a 'rising star' and the local promoters would be well advised if they had this star twinkle in their concerts".
Catherine Gordeladze's recent highlights include her orchestral performance for the orchestral saison beginning 2003-2004 at the Landestheater Coburg under Nicolàs Pasquet. The Coburger Tagesblatt wrote about it: "…the a- minor concerto in A minor Op. 54 by Robert Schumann was superbly rendered by the young Georgian pianist Catherine Gordeladze as well as by Nicolás Pasquet ´s accompanying orchestra sounding sensitive and beautiful. From the beginning Alexis Weissenberg's master pupil and winner of several international competitions convinced with her vigorous performance as well as with her lyrical empathy. Technically she was superior at all times thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the piano part, pleasing with passionate accents, sparkling arpeggiation and brilliant passages, ending with genuine pianistical fireworks." Currently she received a special award to honour her achievement as an outstanding piano player. The prize will be handed over by the Cultural Fund of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, whose air is to support major talents in different disciplines. The ceremony has taken place in Nuremberg in May 2005.
Catherine Gordeladze is working as lecturer at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt am Main.
Her CD of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) has attracted particular attention. Catherine Gordeladze commands a wide-ranging repertoire from barogue to contemporary. In addition to her appearances as a soloist, she is also active in chamber music groups. She gives concerts with the cellist Prof. Daniel R. Graf, for instance. |
