Zurab Sotkilava

 

 

 

Biography

 

http://samegrelo.geguchadze.com/Z.Sotkilava.php

Zurab Sotkilava Tenor. People’s Artist Zurab Sotkilava was born on March 12, 1937, in Sukhumi, Georgia.

He began his vocal career after a technical education. In 1965 he graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatoire (class prof. David Anguladze) and a few years later he finished his post-graduate course. From 1965 to 1974 he was a soloist of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre.From 1966 to 1968 he was probationer at La Scala (class maestro Barra), Milan. Since 1974 he has been a soloist of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. He's the People’s Artist of Georgia and USSR (1979).

 

Sotkilava's remarkable vocal qualities and perfect mastery of the "instrument" are enhanced by a striking dramatic talent. His beautiful, bright voice is highly esteemed among opera lovers both in Georgia and abroad. His repertoire includes almost all the main tenor roles:

 

 - Abesalom (Paliashvili "Abesalom and Eteri"),

- Jose ("Karmen"),

- Cavaradossi ("Toska"),

- Calloandro ( La Molinara"),

- Vaudemont ("lolanta"),

- The Indian Guest ("Sadko"),\

- Count Golitsyn ("Khovanschina”),

- The Pretender ("Boris Godunov"),

- Otello ("Otello"),

- Radames( Aida"),

- Ricardo ("Un ballo in Maschera"),

- Izmael (“Nabucco”).

 

Zurab Sotkilava is considered one of the best performers of the part of Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. He is also much in demand as a concert artist in Georgia, Russia and abroad. In addition, he gives numerous concerts as a recitalist, his repertoire including romances by both Georgian and foreign composers as well as Russian, Neapolitan, Georgian and Mengrelian folk songs.

 

Professor at the Moscow State Conservatoire, Zurab Sotkilava is a winner of the State Prize of Georgia.

 

http://iberiana.iatp.ge/geosur/sotkilava.htm

Zurab Sotkilava was born on March 12, 1937, in Sukhumi, Georgia.

He began his vocal career after a technical education. In 1965 he graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatoire (class prof. David Anguladze) and a few years later he finished his post-graduate course. From 1965 to 1974 he was a soloist of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre. From 1966 to 1968 he was probationer at La Scala (class maestro Barra), Milan. Since 1974 he has been a soloist of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. He's the People’s Artist of Georgia and USSR (1979).

Sotkilava's remarkable vocal qualities and perfect mastery of the "instrument" are enhanced by a striking dramatic talent. His beautiful, bright voice is highly esteemed among opera lovers both in Georgia and abroad.

His repertoire includes almost all the main tenor roles: Abesalom (Paliashvili "Abesalom and Eteri"), Jose ("Karmen"), Cavaradossi ("Toska"), Calloandro ( La Molinara"), Vaudemont ("lolanta"), The Indian Guest ("Sadko"), Count Golitsyn ("Khovanschina”), The Pretender ("Boris Godunov"), Otello ("Otello"), Radames( Aida"), Ricardo ("Un ballo in Maschera"), Izmael (“Nabucco”). Zurab Sotkilava is considered one of the best performers of the part of Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.

He is also much in demand as a concert artist in Georgia, Russia and abroad. In addition, he gives numerous concerts as a recitalist, his repertoire including romances by both Georgian and foreign composers as well as Russian, Neapolitan, Georgian and Mengrelian folk songs.

Professor at the Moscow State Conservatoire, Zurab Sotkilava is a winner of the State Prize of Georgia.

 

http://www.vor.ru/culture/cultarch209_eng.html

ZURAB SOTKILAVA TURNS - 30 YEARS AT THE BOLSHOI

In March the outstanding Russian tenor Zurab Sotkilava turned 65. Next year will mark three decades since his debut at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre. Before joining the Bolshoi's renowned troupe Sotkilava sang in Tbilisi, Georgia. He perfected his skills during a two-year training course at the famous La Scala theatre in Milan. Among his Italian teachers was the celebrated Dinare Barr. Up to now Sotkilava is regarded as one of the best interpreters of the parts of Richard and Otello from Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera" and "Otello". The latter is one of his favorites.

"My happiest memories are connected with "Otello". Thank God, the Bolshoi staged it", Sotkilava says. "It was put on by the renowned opera producer Boris Pokrovsky and conductor Yevgeny Svetlanov. The part of Otello won me honorary membership of the Academy of Arts of Bologna. I am very proud of it. This is the brightest episode in my career".

Sotkilava's vast repertoire boasts more than 30 operas by Russian and foreign composers. He excels in lyrical and dramatic tenor parts written for perfect bel canto. The chamber pieces performed by Sotkilava would suffice to compile a dozen concert programs.

Sotkilava's talent put him on a par with his famous contemporaries Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo. Both are stage partners and friends. This friendship and the rousing reception the Spanish public gave Sotkilava at Barcelona's Liceo Theatre owe to his "double" victory at the 1970 opera contest in Barcelona: Sotkilava took two prizes - the Grand-Prix and the first prize. In between and after there were other victories. Sotkilava sang at La Scala and Grande Opera, and on other best opera stages in Europe.

In his youth Sotkilava was a promising soccer player performing for the Tbilisi "Dinamo" club - a fact now known to many in Georgia and Russia. He still remains an ardent soccer fan. His preferences lie with the Italian "Milan" club.

"I am currently working on a very interesting program - Verdi's chamber music", Sotkilava says. "I want to premiere it in Moscow. I have a tight concert schedule abroad. I am content with my life. The main things for me are my family, my daughters, and my wife, who is doing everything to keep me healthy and fit".