Vaja Azarashvili

Azarashvili was born in Tbilisi. His father, Shalva Azarashvili, was enthusiastic about folk music. Vaja attended the Tbilisi State Conservatoire under the tutelage of {{ill|Aleksandre Shaverzashvili|ka|ალექსანდრე შავერზაშვილი}} and Iona Tuskiya.{{cite web|url=http://www.nplg.gov.ge/bios/ka/00003970/|title=ალექსანდრე შავერზაშვილი|work=Biographical Dictionary of Georgia|language=Georgian}} He earned his post-graduate degree in 1961 under the direction of Andria Balanchivadze. He then taught at his alma mater and notably chaired the {{ill|Union of Composers of Georgia|ka|საქართველოს კომპოზიტორთა კავშირი}} from 1998 to 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbilisi.gov.ge/index.php?sec_id=2884&lang_id=GEO|title=ვაჟა აზარაშვილი|work=City of Tbilisi|language=Georgian|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120805222412/http://www.tbilisi.gov.ge/index.php?sec_id=2884&lang_id=GEO|archivedate=5 August 2012}} He had one daughter, Natia Azarashvili.{{cite journal|url=https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/31631|title=ვაჟა და ნათია აზარაშვილები|journal=National Parliamentary Library of Georgia|date=11 February 2014 |language=Georgian}}

In 1969, Azarashvili created a concerto for cello and the chamber orchestra. He expanded his repertoire in the 1970s and 1980s, venturing into operettas and ballet. In the 1990s, despite the poor economic situation in the newly independent Republic of Georgia, he created symphonic suites and several pieces for piano. He dedicated many songs to his native city of Tbilisi,{{cite news |last= |first= |date=21 November 2018|title=ვაჟა აზარაშვილი საიდუმლოს გვიმხელს: როდის და რა ვითარებაში დაიწერა სიმღერა "დინამო, დინამო"? რა შუაშია არარატი?|trans-title= |url=https://lelo.ge/article/%E1%83%95%E1%83%90%E1%83%9F%E1%83%90-%E1%83%90%E1%83%96%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%A8%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98-%E1%83%A1%E1%83%90%E1%83%98%E1%83%93%E1%83%A3%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9A%E1%83%9D%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%92%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%9B%E1%83%AE%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9D%E1%83%93%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%93%E1%83%90-%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90-%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%97%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%94%E1%83%91%E1%83%90%E1%83%A8%E1%83%98-%E1%83%93%E1%83%90%E1%83%98%E1%83%AC%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90-%E1%83%93%E1%83%98%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9D,-%E1%83%93%E1%83%98%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9D-%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90-%E1%83%A8%E1%83%A3%E1%83%90%E1%83%A8%E1%83%98%E1%83%90-%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%A2%E1%83%98-10011/|language=Georgian|work=Lelo|location= |access-date=7 February 2024}} some of which were performed by the likes of Nani Bregvadze, Giuli Chokheli, Vakhtang Kikabidze,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBqIk0oOMjY|title=ვახტანგ კიკაბიძე - სუბსარქისის ქარო (1979)|date=1 January 2016|work=YouTube|language=Georgian}}{{cite journal|url=https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/33711|title=გულს სანამდე ემღერება|journal=National Parliamentary Library of Georgia|date=1980 |language=Georgian |last1=Ованов |first1=А. |last2=Арешидзе |first2=Н. |last3=Каландадзе |first3=Г. |last4=Грузинский |first4=П. |last5=Эдилашвили |first5=Н. |last6=Гоголашвили |first6=В. |last7=Цабадзе |first7=Г. |last8=Канчели |first8=Г. |last9=Азарашвили |first9=В. |last10=Нишнианидзе |first10=Ш. |last11=Гришашвили |first11=Г. |last12=Гвишиани |first12=Д. |last13=Цабадзе |first13=К. }} {{ill|Eter Kakulia|ka|ეთერ კაკულია}}, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, {{ill|Merab Sepashvili|ka|მერაბ სეფაშვილი}}, {{ill|Orera (band)|ka|ორერა|lt=Orera}}, VIA Iveria, and {{ill|Teatroni|ka|ვია თეატრონი}}. His personal archives were saved in the {{ill|Archival Fund of the National Center for Manuscripts|ka|ხელნაწერთა ეროვნული ცენტრის საარქივო ფონდი}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.manuscript.ge/index.php?m=11&cid=52|title=List of the Archives Preserved in the National Centre of Manuscripts|work=National Centre of Manuscripts|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808072143/http://www.manuscript.ge/index.php?m=11&cid=52|archivedate=8 August 2014}} On 22 December 2011, his star was revealed in front of the Tbilisi State Concert Hall.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=21 December 2011|title=ვაჟა აზარაშვილის ვარსკვლავის გახსნა|trans-title= |url=https://tabula.ge/ge/news/545004-vazha-azarashvilis-varskvlavis-gakhsna|language=Georgian|work=Tabula|location= |access-date=7 February 2024}}

Vaja Azarashvili died on 7 February 2024, at the age of 87.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=7 February 2024|title=ვაჟა აზარაშვილი გარდაიცვალა|trans-title= |url=https://imedinews.ge/ge/kultura/323242/vaja-azarashvili-gardaitsvala|language=Georgian|work=Imedi News|location= |access-date=7 February 2024}}

• Важа Азарашвили – Песни Важа Азарашвили (1976){{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/702284-%D0%92%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B0-%D0%90%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%92%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B0-%D0%90%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8|title=Важа Азарашвили – Песни Важа Азарашвили|work=Discogs|language=Russian}}
• Важа Азарашвили / Рамаз Карухнишвили – Грузинская Камерная Музыка (1984){{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/8678996-%D0%92%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B0-%D0%90%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%A0%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B7-%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83%D1%85%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%88%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%93%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD|title=Важа Азарашвили / Рамаз Карухнишвили – Грузинская Камерная|work=Discogs|language=Russian}}
• ვაჟა აზარაშვილი – სიმღერები (1985){{cite journal|url=https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/33338|title=ვაჟა აზარაშვილი – სიმღერები|journal=National Parliamentary Library of Georgia|date=1985 |language=Georgian |last1=Азарашвили |first1=Важа |last2=Николадзе |first2=В. |last3=Грузинский |first3=П. |last4=Поцхишвили |first4=М. |last5=Гвишиани |first5=Д. }}
• ვაჟა აზარაშვილი – მე და ჩემი სიმღერა (1988){{cite journal|url=https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/36866|title=მე და ჩემი სიმღერა|journal=National Parliamentary Library of Georgia|date=1988 |language=Georgian |last1=Азарашвили |first1=В. |last2=Николадзе |first2=В. |last3=Поцхишвили |first3=М. }}

{{reflist}}

• {{discogs artist|Важа Азарашвили}}
• {{IMDb name|0044114}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azarashvili, Vaja}}

Category:1936 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:Musicians from Tbilisi

Category:Composers from Georgia (country)

Category:Pianists from Georgia (country)

Category:Educators from Georgia (country)

Category:Recipients of the Order of Honor (Georgia)