Effective period / Period of releases: 1954 - 1969

The Georgian State Song and Dance Ensemble.

In 1937 the State Ethnographic Choir of the Georgian SSR was formed by uniting the ethnographic ensembles of East (Государственный Этнографический Хор Восточной Грузии) and West (Государственный Ансамбль Западной Грузии) Georgia, and soon became the State Song & Dance Ensemble. In 1945-1947 it was again briefly split into separate East and West ensembles.
After Georgian independence the ensemble was re-named Erisioni in 1999.
Leaders have included (with tentative dates):
Grigol Kokeladze - გრიგოლ კოკელაძე with Kirile Pachkhoria - კირილე პაჭკორია and David Kavsadze - დავით კავსაძე
Shalva Mshvelidze - Шалва Мшвелидзе (1947-1950)
Valerian Tsagareishvili (1950-1958)
Anzor Kavsazde - Анзор Кавсадзе (1957-1966)
Guram Bakrade - Гурам Бакрадзе (1975-1987)
Jemal Chkuaseli - Джемал Чкаусели (1986-2015)

Erisioni now claim to have been founded in 1885; however the Georgian Choir founded in 1885 by Lado (Vladimer) Agniashvili, known as Kartuli Khoro (ქართული ხორო) was only active until 1892. The choirmaster of this ensemble was Josef Navrátil.