Renovated 164-Year-Old Opera Reopens

After 43 years, public first saw the reconstructed artsy curtain that had been lost due to fire in theatre.

On January 30 and 31, Tbilisi State Opera finally opened its doors to the public, representing Georgian opera Abesalom And Eteri. First time public saw the grand lustre and reborn legendary curtain together. The lustre, which is covered with Austrian crystal, appeared in 1977, after fire in the theatre burned its interior and the well-known curtain, designed by Sergo Kobuladze. After thetre’s restoration the curtain remained lost. It took 8 months for artists and designers to recreate the curtain from original plans and sketches.

First production featured Tamar Iveri (soprano) as Eter and Lado Ataneli (baritone) as Murman. Iveri, who has already sung on world’s biggest opera stages, had her debut in Georgia. It’s her first Georgian role. As for Ataneli, he sang his part after 23-year-pause. Teimuraz Gugushvili (tenor), who has been singing Abesalom for decades, sang it once again.

Operatic Music Concert In Conservatory

Cast: Nino Machaidze, Irine Taboridze, Irine Ratiani, Mariam Kobaliani, Ani Tsartsidze, Legi Imedashvili, Nikoloz Lagvilava, Mamuka Tepnadze, Anzor Khidasheli, Vakhtang Jashiashvili

Conductor: Gianluca Marciano