Saaremaa Opera Days
Monday, July 29
Three Georgian opera theatres – Z. Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre; Batumi Opera and Ballet Theatre and M. Balanchivadze Kutaisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre, participated in the festival Saaremaa Opera Days (21-28 July, Estonia, Saaremaa Island). Participation of Georgian opera theatres in the festival was initiated, organized and financially supported by the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia.
In the frames of the event, Batumi State Centre of Art and Music, presented Lucia di Lammermoor, drama by Gaetano Donizetti. Z. Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre performed Rigoletto, opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi while M. Balanchivadze Kutaisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre performed Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini.
The concert of the Z. Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre’s Georgian Folk Song Ensemble of soloists, Suliko (Art director – Kakhaber Onashvili) was also on the agenda.
On 27 July, the Saaremaa Opera Days were closed with the Gala Concert, dedicated to 200th anniversary of Wagner and Verdi. The participants of the concert included Georgian and Estonian opera soloists; vocalists and dancers of the Z. Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre and the orchestra led by Italian conductor Gian Luca Marciano.
Georgia was involved in Saaremaa Opera Days based on the agreement signed at the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia on 7 February 2013 by the Director of the Z. Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre, Giorgi Zhordania and the Director of the State Concert Organization of Estonia “Eesti Kontsert” (organizer of the Festival), Juri Leiten.
The first opera festival on the island Saaremaa took place in 1999. The festival has partner relations with world known opera theatres. Famous soloists and conductors participate in the festival. The number of participants increases annually. Last year 12 000 people attended the festival. Starting from 2008 festival is organized by the State Concert Organization of Estonia - “Eesti Kontsert”.
(Based on the information of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection)
