Hibla Gerzmava Solo Concert

On November 30, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted a concert by renowned opera singer Hibla Gerzmava as part of the music festival “Hibla Gerzmava Invites…”. A People’s Artist of Russia beloved by audiences around the world, she captivates listeners with her impeccable technique and distinctive timbre, outstanding acting and carefully crafted interpretations. That evening, the opera diva performed alongside Honored Artist of Russia and leading Bolshoi Theatre soloist Igor Golovatenko (baritone), as well as Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia and guest soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre Hovhannes Ayvazyan (tenor). The opera stars presented an exquisite program featuring arias by Russian and international composers. They were accompanied by the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Honored Artist of Russia and Bolshoi Theatre conductor Anton Grishanin.

Hibla Gerzmava is a brilliant prima donna of the opera stage. A passionate and stylish singer, she is equally compelling in classical arias, jazz improvisations and traditional romances. Blessed with a unique voice and extraordinary dramatic talent, Hibla is one of the most sought-after Russian singers on the international stage, and her name on a concert poster is a guarantee of a sold-out performance anywhere in the world. The “Hibla Gerzmava Invites…” festival was founded by the opera diva in 2001 and was held annually in Abkhazia. Since 2014, the festival has expanded beyond its original borders and has been held at venues in Russia and abroad. In 2023, with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the festival took another step forward: it began taking place in several countries and expanded its program beyond concerts to include creative meetings.

Igor Golovatenko is an Honored Artist of Russia and one of the world’s leading baritones. He is a principal soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre opera company, where his repertoire includes Onegin (Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky), Yeletsky and Robert (The Queen of Spades, Iolanta by Tchaikovsky), Renato and Germont (Un ballo in maschera, La traviata by Verdi), Rodrigo and Count di Luna (Don Carlos, Il trovatore by Verdi), Figaro (The Barber of Seville by Rossini), as well as roles in operas by Puccini, Donizetti and Mussorgsky. In addition to Russia, he performs at leading festivals and venues around the world, including the Salzburg Festival, Vienna State Opera, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, the Bavarian State Opera and others. He also maintains an active concert career, performing chamber music.

Hovhannes Ayvazyan is an Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, a guest soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre and a soloist of the Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan in Yerevan. As a guest soloist, he has performed at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, the Moscow Novaya Opera Theatre named after E. V. Kolobov, the Musa Jalil Tatar Academic State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Sicily, the Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw, Oper Frankfurt, the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Palm Beach Opera in Florida and other venues. He has also performed Mozart’s Requiem at the Musikverein in Vienna and appeared at an opera gala concert at Victoria Hall in Geneva.

The Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra (MGASO) was founded in 1943 by the Soviet government and is one of Russia’s oldest symphony orchestras. Thanks to the diversity of its programs and consistently high standards of performance, the ensemble has earned the respect and affection of audiences both in Russia and abroad. MGASO performs annually at leading concert venues in Moscow and regularly tours throughout the regions of Russia. The orchestra works with both prominent Russian conductors and soloists and internationally renowned maestros. MGASO also participates in competitions for young performers and provides graduates of Russian higher music institutions with opportunities for professional development.