Women’s ensemble Ialoni was formed in 2009 in Tbilisi, by Nino Naneishvili. Their repertoire includes all three styles of Georgian traditional vocal polyphony: ecclesiastical, folk and city music.

They select their repertoire from archival records and manuscripts, expedition findings and published notated collections, with a special emphasis on reviving relatively unusual, original and complex songs.

The ensemble considers it important to understand the character of the different chanting schools as well as the folk and city songs originating from different regions, comprehending them intimately and then bringing them to life with the ensemble’s own signature.

OCM & Folk Weekend Oxford present a one-off performance, a collaboration between Ialoni choir, Ensemble Stumari and singers Mikheil Javakhishvili and Nargile Mehtiyeva.

This will be a 90 minute performance, including a live Zoom Q&A with Nino Naneishvili, the director of Ialoni, interviewed by Holly Taylor host of Voices of the Ancestors, the podcast about Georgian polyphonic songs and the women who sing them.

This performance will take place in Georgia and have its premiere broadcast at the Ultimate Picture Palace on 3rd June. Very limited in-person tickets will be available for this special premiere event at Ultimate Picture Palace! The concert will be available to stream on demand at home for 1 week.