NINO MACHAIDZE, Soprano GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

A native of Georgia, Nino Machaidze’s breakthrough came after being spotted as Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at La Scala, under Riccardo Chailly, leading to the opportunity to play Juliette, replacing Anna Netrebko, for the new Salzburg Festival production of Gounod’s ‘Roméo et Juliette’ alongside Rolando Villazon. In a few brief years since then, her whirlwind career has brought her to the world’s most prestigious opera houses. She has starred at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera, Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Arena di Verona, Los Angeles Opera, and others. Her roles have included Violetta (La Traviata), Rosina (Barber of Saville), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Adina (L’elisir d’amore),  Nedda (Pagliacci), Juliette (Romeo and Juliette), Desdemona (Otello), Gilda (Rigoletto) and the title roles in Louisa Miller, Manon, and Lucia di Lammermoor. Other roles that earned her outstanding success were as Marie in the Metropolitan Opera revival of Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment and Gilda in Rigoletto at the Opera National de Paris’.GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

“Nino Machaidze is sublime in Romeo and Juliette. The result was glorious

Machaidze’s brilliant coloratura, so effective for her previous Donizetti and Rossini assignments in Los Angeles, was spectacular in the role that encompasses the coloratura fireworks of the first act Valse, high dramatic singing for the story’s darker moments, and irresistible lyricism in her love duets.” GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

William’s Reviews (Romeo and Juliette)

                   GEORGE GAGNIDZE, Baritone GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18 8pm

George Gagnidze, baritone from Georgia, is one of the world’s most acclaimed baritones. He was born and raised in Tbilisi where he trained at the Tbilisi State Conservatory. His began his career at the Paliashvili State Opera and from there went on to attain international acclaim. In the course of his career George has performed the title roles in Rigoletto and Macbeth; Tosca (Scarpia), Pagliacci (Tonio), Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio), Aida(Amonasro) and Khovanščina as a formal star of the Metropolitan Opera.  He has performed Nabucco (title role) and Tosca at the Vienna State Opera, Rigoletto, La Traviata (Germont), Tosca and Aida at the Teatro alla Scala,Tosca, Francesca da Rimini and Aida at Opéra National of Paris, Simon Boccanegra (title role) and Tosca at the Teatro Real di Madrid, Rigoletto at the Festival of Aix-en-Provence, Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at Gran Teatro del Liceu of Barcelona, Rigoletto and Pagliacci at the Los Angeles Opera, Luisa Miller (Miller) at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, La Traviata at the Arena of Verona, and Otello (Iago) at The Greek National Opera of Athens. The New York Times hailed his singing as having “robust, earthy power and seductive lyricism”.

  “George Gagnidze let the metal sound of his voice ring out, perpetuating the memory of the great interpreters of the role.”   Nicolas Grienenberger, Classique News

            SHALVA MUKERIA, Tenor GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

Shalva Mukeria was born in Georgia. His lyric tenor timbre, of a typical Italian quality and with an exceptional extension has earned him a first class international career. His first roles were with the Odessa Opera where he sang Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Alfredo in La Traviata, Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Rodolfo in La Bohème and Werther in Werther. This was followed by appearances as Cassio inOtello in Las Palmas, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Elvino in La Sonnambula at Teatro Comunale, and his U.S. debut at the Santa Fe Opera opposite Natalie Dessay. Other important roles that he has performed include, Alfredo and Rodolfo at the Royal Danish Opera and the Italian Tenor in Der Rosenkavalier at the Wiener Opera. He achieved great acclaim for his performances as Arturo in I Puritani in Santiago, Chile. Additional roles were performed with the Washington National Opera, The Vienna State Opera, and Teatro La Fenice in Venice. GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

“Mukeria tackles the difficult role of Tebaldo with a full, beautiful voice, vigor,

and strong stage presence.”    Anibal E. Cetrángolo, Mundo Clasico

ELISSO BOLKVADZE, Pianist GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

Elisso Bolkvadze has received numerous awards, including Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Vianna da Motta International Music Competition, Dublin International Piano Competition, Marguerite Long Competition and Bach Competition. She was “The Medal of Honor of Georgian Government”.  She is a frequent guest with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Orchestre National de France, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech National Symphonyrchestra, Lithuanian National Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Sympony Orchetra. Her solo recitals  have been at the Kennedy Center, Ambassador Auditorium, Chicago Symphony Hall, Salle Pleyel, Salle Gaveau and Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Gewandhaus, Herkulessaal Alte Oper, Konzerthaus, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, Chopin Festival and  Bagatelle Paris, Ravello Festival.  In Georgia, she is founder of “Lyra” a charity that supports talented Georgian Children, is also Artistic Director of Batumi International Music Festival Laureate of the International Foundation SOS Talents – Michel Sogny. She received the distinction of Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by French Republic and became a Unesco Artist for Peace in 2015. Zubin Mehta praises “I was extremely impressed by her musicality and the complete control she has over her instrument”.

NUTSA SHANSHIASHVILI, POPULAR GEORGIAN VOCALIST GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18

Considered one of the most authentic and original talents, Nutsa Shanshiashvili could be rightfully called a true Renaissance Artist – an actress, a painter and a singer, she happen to achieve an international acclaim in all of the above-mentioned categories. Nutsa has won the love of the Georgian, Russian, Israeli and American theater audiences and concertgoers by playing Edith Piaf in a stage production of “Edith Piaf. My Legionnaire” as well as headlining “The Lover of Love” and “The Lover of Love 2” world tours produced and directed by famous Roman Viktiuk. Her personal fine art exhibits is a constant success way beyond her native Republic of Georgia. In addition to her stage, fine art and music career Nutsa has been starring in feature motion pictures “March Turetskogo”, “Rostov Papa”, “Amapola” and “The Law”.

 GEORGIAN NIGHT CARNEGIE HALL July 18 8pm