City Lights, Batiashvili (CD)

Discs: 1
Record Label: Deutsche Gramophon
Release Date: May 29, 2020

“Batiaschvili makes an almost otherworldly presence, like the voice of the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz — reverberant and larger than life . . . she is unfailingly expressive and sends off fireworks when called for, as in The Lark — the Enescu-esque ‘Bucharest’ selection — or Strauss’ Furioso Galopp.” — Gramophone

Lisa Batiashvili presents City Lights — a journey across the world through eleven carefully chosen pieces representing the most important cities in her life, as well as a suite based on Charlie Chaplin’s music for City Lights and other films of his in celebration of the 130th anniversary of his birth. The music ranges from Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Strauss to Michel Legrand and Astor Piazzolla, bringing together diverse genres and perspectives into a one-of-a-kind compilation of sounds. Batiashvili is joined by a collection of outstanding collaborators, including composer-arranger Nikoloz Rachveli, Katie Melua (vocals), Till Brönner (trumpet), Miloš Karadaglić (guitar) and Maximilian Hornung (cello).