Kessner Franz

Kessner Franz (b. 1851, Berlin – d. 1930, Tbilisi), a German pianist and pedagogue, and one of the founders of Tbilisi Conservatory.

In 1876, he graduated from the Berlin Academy of Music specializing in piano, commencing his pedagogical activities at the same institution that year. In 1879, Kessner undertook a concert tour alongside the renowned violinist H. Wieniawski, performing across Western Europe and the major cities of the Russian Empire. He arrived in Georgia in 1881, where he married and settled permanently in Tbilisi.

Following a series of highly successful performances, he was invited to join the faculty of Tbilisi School of Music, where he directed the piano class for the rest of his life. From 1918 onward, he served as a professor at Tbilisi Conservatory. Kessner established the city's first professional string quartet (composed of V. Wilshau, A. Polivka, E. Semigalov, and K. Miniar), various other instrumental ensembles (including duets, trios, and quartets), and the first chamber orchestra.

Throughout his career, he maintained an active concert schedule, frequently performing alongside his wife, the vocalist N. Shevchenko-Kessner (who served as the consistent performing partner of Feodor Chaliapin during his artistic stays in Georgia). Among Kessner's prominent pupils were M. Kamoeva, A. Anisimova, and D. Garbuzov. In recognition of his extensive contributions to the city's cultural life, the municipal administration granted Kessner the title of Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi and awarded him a gold medal.

Literature: მშველიძე ა., სამუსიკო განათლება საქართველოში, თბ., 1970 (Mshvelidze A., Musical Education in Georgia, Tb., 1970).