Born in St. Petersburg , Russia , he graduated from the Tbilisi State Conservatory in 1927 and Leningrad Conservatory in 1931 , where he studied with Pyotr Ryazanov . Upon his return to Georgia , he became the musical director of several theatres from 1931 to 1934 . Having barely survived Joseph Stalin 's purges , he became a professor at the Tbilisi Conservatory in 1942 and served as an artistic director of the Georgian State Symphony from 1941 to 1948 . He became a major influence in musical politics as chair ( 1953 ) , and first secretary ( 1955 – 1961 , 1968 – 1972 ) of the Union of Georgian Composers . Balanchivadze ’s numerous symphonies , pianoforte concerts , and compositions for the stage heavily contributed to modern Georgian classical music . He also authored the first Georgian ballet , '' The Heart of the Mountains '' ( 1936 ) . He was granted the titles of the People 's Artist of Georgia ( 1957 ) and of the Soviet Union ( 1968 ) and awarded with several prizes , including the USSR State Prize in 1944 and the Shota Rustaveli State Prize in 1969
purges
Great Purge
Andria Balanchivadze