Bravo Records presents a new and special album in Abkhazian language titled – Ert Simgheras Vmgherit, which officially premiered on June 11 at the Vakhtang Salaridze Concert Hall as part of an event dedicated to Abkhazia Day. This year, for the first time, the celebration of Abkhazia Day was dedicated to displaced Abkhazian youth and their peers living in temporarily occupied territories of Abkhazia. At the event, speeches, highlighting the importance of the evening, were given by the head of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Ruslan Abashidze, President of Bravo Records Zaza Shengelia, and poet and public figure Guram Odisharia. The musical compositions, included in the album were performed by the famous Georgian singers. The members of the Governement of Autonomius Republic of Abkhazia, deputies of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, representatives of Georgia’s legislative and executive authorities, and participants of the project, attended the event.
The project involved selecting and reworking the most popular contemporary Abkhazian music hits and creating versions with new arrangement. The vocal parts were recorded in Abkhaz language by well-known, young Georgian singers. Participants of the project are: Nutsa Topuria, Ia Jgerenaia, Nodiko Tatishvili, Salome Bakuradze, Giorgi Tskhadadze, Duet Georgia, Sofo Gelovani, Giorgi Sukhitashvili, Tika Makhaldiani, Sofo Khalvashi, the ensemble Oda, Milena Ajiba, Nino Papava, and the Abkhazian Song state Ensemble Shavnabada.
The album contains 10 contemporary Abkhazian pop hits and one authentic Abkhazian folk song performed by the Abkhazian Song state Ensemble Shavnabada. The project was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, the Abkhazia Agency for Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs, the Ministtry of Justice and Civil Integration of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, the Abkhazian Information Analytical Center, and the EU Representation in Georgia, with additional support from the magazine City and Radio Holding Fortuna.
Arrangement for the songs were done by Georgia’s most famous specialists: Boriko Shkhiani, Mamuka (Peke) Begashvili, Tsira Bzhishvili, and Zaza Khubukelashvili.
The album is accompanied by a bilingual commemorative brochure in Abkhaz and Georgian languages, featuring emotional recollections from notable figures who have had a personal or creative connection to Abkhazia. Contributors include filmmakers Lana Ghoghoberidze and Giorgi Ovashvili, writers Guram Odisharia and Anzor Kudba, singer Natia Todua, actress Salome Demuria, journalists Eka Khoperia and Eka Tsivtsivadze, and Bravo Records President Zaza Shengelia.
Although the musical project is non-commercial, the newly established organization IPOA will officially license the songs for the Abkhazian composers and lyricists featured in the album.
Special recognition goes to Irma Osia, journalist and translator of Abkhaz language, for her major contribution to the project.The album design was designed by Sandro Chkhaidze. Recording, mixing, and mastering of the songs were done by Bravo Records chief sound engineer Aleko Berdzenishvili.
The Bravo Records team extends sincere thanks to the project supporters: Radio Holding Fortuna and City magazine.
Project concept: Zaza Shengelia
Producer: Tata Kristesahvili
Producer’s assistant: Eliso Tsikhelashvili
