Opera in Regions
By Mariam Chanishvili
Tuesday, September 10
From September 11 to September 24, the population of the regions of Georgia will have the opportunity to attend opera performances.
Within the framework of the project "Opera in Regions", Adjara, Samegrelo, Imereti, Kakheti, Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti will host a chamber opera directed by Irina Gachechiladze. Gian Carlo Menotti’s "The Telephone" was staged by the young Georgian director in Vienna at the Volkstheater, Rote Bar while before that, Irina Gachechiladze's performance was presented at London's Salon Opera and at the Zichy Palace in Bratislava.
Chamber, so-called “salon” opera is a novelty in Georgia. The performance features several musicians, including Georgian actors and singers from other countries: soprano Rusudan Barbakadze and pianist George Kachinsky from Vienna, and a Dutch-born Cello player Heather Leslie. From Georgia Baritone Dimitri Shapakidze, actor Philipe Grechulevich and cellist Giorgi Kikabidze are participating.
In addition to chamber opera, in the second part of the performance, the musicians will also perform opera and classical works.
Opera performances in the regions will begin on September 11. The first performance will be held in the big concert hall of Zakaria Paliashvili Music School in Batumi. On September 14, the musicians will move to Zugdidi and will perform a salon at the Youth Palace.
And on September 15, performance in Chiatura will take place at Tsereteli Drama Theater, September 18 - an opera performance at the Duis Cultural House in Pankisi Gorge; on September 19, musicians will perform for the IDPs from Shida Kartli villages in the cultural center of Nikozi. The regional tour of the Chamber Opera will end on September 24 in Akhalkalaki.
The project "Opera in Regions" aims to popularize classical music in the regions of Georgia. The project aims to introduce the opera arts to the population who cannot come to the capital and visit the Georgian National Opera Theater.
“The Telephone”, or L'Amour à trois is an English-language comic opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti, both words and music. It was written for production by the Ballet Society and was first presented on a double bill with Menotti's The Medium at the Heckscher Theater, New York City, February 18–20, 1947.
