MESMA's Inception at the Tbilisi Opera: The Establishment of the MESMA Foundation
The MESMA Foundation, a new initiative aimed at promoting and supporting innovative and sustainable music education and culture, made its grand debut at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater on September 8th. The event, meticulously assembled to carry dramaturgical weight, was both an announcement and allegory, an institutional presentation refracted through the language of theatre.
The evening was a synthesis of ceremony, performance, and civic gesture, with the architecture of the Opera serving as a backdrop for contrasts between past and present, ceremony and intimacy, institutional gravitas and emotional release. The gilded balconies and marble staircases of the Opera framed the past and present, while the choreography of generations was a significant gesture of the night.
The event featured students, veterans, and musicians from Europe sharing the stage, with the participation of the Trinity Choir (Sameba) giving the evening a sacred undertone, reminding the audience of the ancient roots of Georgian polyphony. Nani Bregvadze, the grande dame of Georgian song, appeared, her performance serving as an act of inheritance and a reminder that cultural memory in Georgia is inseparable from personal voice.
The launch of MESMA suggested a more ambitious goal: culture in Georgia is not only to be nurtured but dramatized, staged, lived through collective acts. The MESMA Foundation's ethos includes supporting young talent through scholarships, bridging artistic generations, and creating new channels for collaboration. The foundation is an initiative born out of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPOA).
The first notes of "Tbiliso" marked the beginning of a communal ritual during the finale, with voices merging to create a single choral body consisting of choir, soloists, and spectators. The boundary between performers and audience dissolved, turning spectators into participants. The event was directed by David Sakvarelidze, who treated it as a staging of a new opera.
The MESMA Foundation intends to support creative capacities and offer scholarships to young artists. The future of Georgian culture will be measured by its ability to turn spectators into participants. The foundation's work will be grounded in European standards while remaining attentive to local traditions. The MESMA Foundation's debut at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater marked the beginning of a new cultural chapter for Georgia.
