Bidzina was born in Sighnaghi, the Kakheti region of former Soviet Georgia to Alexander Kvernadze, a pharmacist, and Nino Nadirashvili, a music teacher.
In 1948, Bidzina presented his musical works to Examination Commission, and he was accepted to the Tbilisi State Conservatoire with the highest score. He finished the composition class in 1958, taught by Andria Balanchivadze. In the same year he was accepted as a member of the Union of Soviet Composers.
Among his honors are the title of "People's Artist of the USSR" (1979), the "Z. Paliashvili Prize" (1981, for My Entreaty, Old Georgian Inscriptions and Vocal-Symphonic Poem) and the "Shota Rustaveli State Prize" (1985, Opera "And it was in the eighth year"). He was also named an Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi (1995).
Seraphita, 1964 (section of Choreographic Stories; may be performed separately as a concert work)
Concerto No. 2, piano, orchestra, 1966
Expectation, string orchestra, 1968
Ceremonial Overture, 1977
Symphonic Overture, 1984
Symphony No. 2, string orchestra, 1986
Choral
Immortality (cantata, texts by L. Chubabria, Petre Gruzinsky), speaker, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971
Cantata about Georgia (text by Petre Gruzinsky), baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971
My Entreaty (vocal–symphonic poem, text by Nikoloz Baratashvili), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1974, revised 1977
Vocal
Old Georgian Inscriptions (text by Giorgi Leonidze), tenor, orchestra, 1978
Vocal–Symphonic Poem (texts by Eter Tataraidze, folk poems from Georgia), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1979
Pray, Child (triptych, text by Iakob Gogebashvili), soprano, piano, 2001, revised 2002
Stage
Choreographic Stories (ballet in 2 acts, scenario by Zurab Kikaleishvili, Guram Meliva, Chukurtma Gudiashvili, after Lado Gudiashvili), 1964 (one section may be performed separately as a concert work: Seraphita)
Wives and Husbands (operetta in 2 acts, libretto by R. Lezgishvili), 1970
Berikaoba (ballet in 1 act, scenario by Giorgi Alexidze), 1973
