Khatia Buniatishvili began her public performance career at age six with the Tbilisi Chamber Orchestra. Her professional trajectory, spanning classical solo and concerto work, has established her as a prominent figure in the contemporary piano landscape, marked by a multi-national background and an extensive discography produced under an exclusive contract with Sony Classical.
Formative Training
Born in 1987 in Batumi, Buniatishvili received her initial piano instruction from her mother at age three. Her formal education included studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire under Tengiz Amirejibi and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where she studied under Oleg Maisenberg. Between ages eleven and fifteen, she undertook intensive training at the Villa Schindler in Austria, following the piano methodology of French pedagogue Michel Sogny.
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Buniatishvili signed with Sony Classical in 2010. Her debut album in 2011 focused on Franz Liszt, including the Sonata in B minor, Liebestraum No. 3, and Mephisto Waltz No. 1. Subsequent releases expanded her repertoire to include Chopin in 2012, recorded with the Orchestre de Paris and conductor Paavo Järvi, and works by Rachmaninoff with the Czech Philharmonic. Further solo albums include Motherland, Kaleidoscope, Schubert, and Labyrinth. Her 2016 collaborations featured the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, and her 2024 releases include Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 23 with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Performance and Honors
Beyond her studio recordings, Buniatishvili is a frequent participant at the Verbier Festival. Her public appearances have included high-profile events such as the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris on 7 December 2024. For her contributions to music, she has been awarded the Order of Queen Tamara. Her citizenship includes France and Georgia, reflecting a career that spans diverse international musical environments.
Fast facts
- Born: 1987, Batumi
- Citizenship: France, Georgia
- Primary Instrument: Piano
- Label: Sony Classical
- Award: Order of Queen Tamara
- Languages: French, German, English, Russian, Georgian
Questions readers ask
Where did Khatia Buniatishvili receive her musical education?
She studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and received specialized training at the Villa Schindler.
What record label does Buniatishvili record for?
She has been an exclusive artist for Sony Classical since 2010.
Achievements
- Order of Queen Tamara
- Instruments: piano
- Genres: classical music
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