World-Acclaimed Georgian Tenor Returns to Restore Tbilisi Opera Glory

After 30 years away from his homeland, spreading the reputation of Georgian opera music and the country itself on numerous world stages as an indelible tenor, Badri Maisuradze is back to take the reins of the Tbilisi Opera Theater as its new Artistic Director.

On November 13, Maisuradze met media representatives at the premises of beautiful opera building, introduced by Minister of Culture Mikheil Giorgadze who welcomed Maisuradze to the post and promised much in store for the Tbilisi Opera House- to “become one of the leading creative institutions and honorable member of World Theater.”

“We will work as our theater’s history and future deserves. Our aim is to make achievements of which we will be proud. This is my one and only ambition. I will try to justify your expectations,” Maisuradze said.

Badri Maisuradze, was born in Tbilisi in 1966. He graduated the Shota Rustaveli Theater, Cinema State University and Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Later, he continued his studies in Milan and Moscow. Maisuradze’s debut at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater happened in Otar Taktakishvili’s opera ‘Mindia.’ He won the Francisco Vinas International Singing Competition (Spain) and Bjorling Vocalists Contest (Sweden).

His international career began in 1993 at the Liege Opera Theater where he performed the part of Dmitri liar in the performance by Mussorgsky ‘Boris Godunov.’ Since then, he has collaborated with multiple leading theaters around the world, including: Berlin Deutsche Opera Vienna Staatsoper, Milan La Scala, Florence Teatro Comunale, Madrid Teatro Real, Naples Teatro di San Carlo, and Palermo Teatro Massimo.

During his lengthy career, Maisuradze has collaborated with well-known conductors, among which are: Seiji Ozawa, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Oren, Antonio Guadagno, Marcello Viotti , Maurizio Barbacini, and Carlo Rizzi.

He became the soloist of Tbilisi Opera Theater in 1989. In 1994, he was the soloist of Moscow Bolshoi Theater. In 2002, he became professor of the Opera Center of Galina Vishnevskaya. He regularly holds master-classes in Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Australia.

GEORGIA TODAY spoke with Sulkhan Gvelesiani, one of the leading singers of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater: “We were unanimously against the former leader, as he made many mistakes. If one is unprofessional, one must leave one’s post. We feel very optimistic now, as this man knows the theater very well, is a magnificent singer himself and has been breathing the air of the theater all his life. Our mission is to support him and prepare all future performances to the utmost quality.”

Maka Lomadze