Djansug Kakhidze (1935–2002), born in Tbilisi, was one of Georgia’s most celebrated conductors, composers, and cultural leaders. A graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatory, where he studied choir conducting and later opera and symphony conducting under Professor Odyssey Dimitriadi, he also refined his craft in Moscow under the legendary Igor Markevich. His artistic path began early: in the 1950s he led the Georgian State Choir and founded the acclaimed men’s vocal ensemble Schvidkatsa, which won gold medals at international competitions in Moscow and Brussels.

From the 1960s onward, Kakhidze established himself both at home and abroad. He served as Chief Conductor of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater, and later of the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra, with which he toured extensively across the Soviet Union and Europe. In 1973 he returned to Georgia to lead the State Symphony Orchestra, raising its artistic standards and expanding its international profile through major tours. His work in Poland also marked a milestone, as he staged the first Georgian opera abroad—Zakhary Paliashvili’s Abesalom and Eteri.

In 1993 Kakhidze founded the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra, which soon gained recognition as a European-level ensemble and collaborated with leading recording companies. He also revitalized Tbilisi’s cultural life by establishing the Tbilisi Center for Music and Culture and creating the international Autumn Tbilisi festival. Over the course of his career, he conducted in some of the world’s most prestigious venues—including La Scala, the Berlin Philharmonic, London’s Festival Hall, the Concertgebouw, and New York’s Lincoln Center—and worked with many of the world’s foremost orchestras and soloists. His baton is preserved alongside Arturo Toscanini’s in Verdi’s museum in Busseto, Italy.

Beyond conducting, Kakhidze was a prolific composer, especially known for film scores and vocal music, which brought him wide public affection. His voice, remarkable for its charm and improvisatory brilliance, became part of his artistry, influencing both his compositions and his interpretations of Georgian folk songs. Widely honored during his lifetime—including the titles People’s Artist of Georgia and the USSR, the Rustaveli Prize, and the Order of Honor—he left a legacy that continues to shape Georgia’s cultural identity. Djansug Kakhidze died in Tbilisi in 2002, and the Tbilisi Center for Music and Culture now bears his name.