Makvala Filimonovna Kasrashvili |

Makvala Kasrashvili

Lyric-dramatic soprano, also performs high mezzo-soprano roles. People’s Artist of the USSR (1986), laureate of the State Prizes of Russia (1998) and Georgia (1983). An outstanding singer of our time, the largest representative of the national vocal school.

In 1966 she graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatory in the class of Vera Davydova, and in the same year she made her debut at the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR as Prilepa (Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades). Laureate of all-Union and international vocal competitions (Tbilisi, 1964; Sofia, 1968; Montreal, 1973). The first success came in 1968 after the performance of the part of Countess Almaviva (Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro), in which the stage talent of the singer was clearly revealed.

Since 1967 she has been a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, on the stage of which she has performed more than 30 leading roles, the best of which are considered to be Tatiana, Lisa, Iolanta (Eugene Onegin, The Queen of Spades, Iolanthe by P. I. Tchaikovsky) , Natasha Rostova and Polina (“War and Peace” and “The Gambler” by S. S. Prokofiev), Desdemona and Amelia (“Otello” and “Masquerade Ball” by G. Verdi), Tosca (“Tosca” by G. Puccini – State . Prize), Santuzza (“Country Honor” by P. Mascagni), Adriana (“Adriana Lecouvreur” by Cilea) and others.

Kasrashvili is the first performer on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater of the roles of Tamar (The Abduction of the Moon by O. Taktakishvili, 1977 – world premiere), Voislava (Mlada by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, 1988), Joanna (The Maid of Orleans by P. I. Tchaikovsky, 1990). Participated in numerous tours of the opera troupe of the theater (Paris, 1969; Milan, 1973, 1989; New York, 1975, 1991; St. Petersburg, Kyiv, 1976; Edinburgh, 1991, etc.).

The foreign debut took place in 1979 at the Metropolitan Opera (Tatiana’s part). In 1983 she sang the part of Elisabeth (G. Verdi’s Don Carlos) at the Savonlinna Festival, and later sang the part of Eboli there. In 1984 she made her debut at Covent Garden as Donna Anna (Don Giovanni by W. A. ​​Mozart), gaining fame as a Mozart singer; she sang in the same place in the “Mercy of Titus” (the part of Vitellia). She made her debut as Aida (Aida by G. Verdi) at the Bavarian State Opera (Munich, 1984), at the Arena di Verona (1985), at the Vienna State Opera (1986). In 1996 she sang the part of Chrysothemis (Electra by R. Strauss) at the Canadian Opera (Toronto). Collaborates with the Mariinsky Theater (Ortrud in Wagner’s Lohengrin, 1997; Herodias in Strauss’ Salome, 1998). Recent performances include Amneris (Aida by G. Verdi), Turandot (Turandot by G. Puccini), Marina Mnishek (Boris Godunov by M. P. Mussorgsky).

Kasrashvili conducts concert activities in Russia and abroad, performing, in addition to opera, in the chamber (romances by P. I. Tchaikovsky, S. V. Rachmaninov, M. de Falla, Russian and Western European sacred music) and cantata-oratorio (Little Solemn Mass G. Rossini, G. Verdi’s Requiem, B. Britten’s Military Requiem, D. D. Shostakovich’s 14th Symphony, etc.) genres.

Since 2002 – Manager of the creative teams of the opera troupe of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia. Participates as a member of the jury in a number of international vocal competitions (named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, E. Obraztsova, etc.).

Among the recordings, the roles of Polina (conductor A. Lazarev), Fevronia (The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, conductor E. Svetlanov), Francesca (Francesca da Rimini by S. V. Rachmaninov) stand out , conductor M. Ermler).