Odyssey Akhillesovich Dimitriadi (Odissey Dimitriadi) |

Odyssey Dimitriadi

Before finally determining his path in the art of music, Dimitriadi tried his hand at composition. The young musician studied at the composition department of the Tbilisi Conservatory in the classes of professors M. Bagrlnovsky and S. Barkhudaryan (1926-1930). Working then in Sukhumi, he wrote music for performances of the Greek drama theater, orchestral and piano pieces. However, conducting attracted him more and more. And now Dimitriadi is again a student – this time at the Leningrad Conservatory (1933-1936). He adopts the experience and skills of professors A. Gauk and I. Musin.

In 1937, Dimitriadi made a successful debut at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, where he worked for ten years. Then the concert activity of the artist unfolds as the chief conductor and artistic director of the symphony orchestra of the Georgian SSR (1947-1952). Glorious milestones of Georgian musical art are connected with the name of Dimitriadi. He presented to the audience many works by A. Balanchivadze, III. Mpizelidze, A. Machavariani, O. Taktakishvili and others. In the post-war years, the artist’s touring activities began in the Soviet Union. Along with the music of Georgian authors, his concert programs often include works by other Soviet composers. Under the direction of Dimitriadi, different orchestras of the country performed new works by A. Veprik, A. Mosolov, N. Ivanov-Radkevich, S. Balasanyan, N. Peiko and others. In the field of classical music, the best achievements of the conductor are associated with the work of Beethoven (Fifth and Seventh Symphonies), Berlioz (Fantastic Symphony), Dvorak (Fifth Symphony “From the New World”), Brahms (First Symphony), Wagner orchestral excerpts from operas), Tchaikovsky (First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth symphonies, “Manfred”), Rimsky-Korsakov (“Scheherazade”).

But, perhaps, the main place in Dimitriadi’s creative life is still occupied by musical theater. As chief conductor of the Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet Theater (3-1952), he directed the production of many classical and modern operas, including Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and The Maid of Orleans, Paliashvili’s Abesalom and Eteri, and Semyon Kotko. Prokofiev, “The Hand of the Great Master” by Sh. Mshvelidze, “Mindiya” by O. Taktakishvili, “Bogdan Khmelnitsky” by K. Dankevich, “Krutnyava” by E. Sukhon. Dimitriadi also conducted ballet performances. In particular, the conductor’s collaboration with the composer A. Machavariani and choreographer V. Chabukiani brought such a significant conquest to the Georgian theater as the ballet Othello. Since 1965, Dimitriadi has been working at the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR.

Dimitriadi’s first tour abroad took place in 1958. Together with the ballet troupe of the theater named after 3. Paliashvili, he performed in Latin America. Subsequently, he repeatedly had to tour abroad as a symphony and opera conductor. Under his direction Verdi’s Aida (1960) sounded in Sofia, Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov (1960) in Mexico City, and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades (1965) in Athens. In 1937-1941, Dimitriadi taught a conducting class at the Tbilisi Conservatory. After a long break, he again turned to pedagogy in 1957. Among his students are many Georgian conductors.

“Contemporary Conductors”, M. 1969.