Review
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13.07.2019
“Most commendable was also the performance of the excellent baritone George Gagnidze, a flawless Alfio for pitch, volume and stage arrogance…”
Paola De Simone, Connessi all’opera
“He ends up being killed in a duel by Alfio, sung by George Gagnidze, whose passionate and impetuous baritone has a considerable extension.”
Lorenzo Fiorito, Bachtrack.com
“Baritone George Gagnidze (Alfio) displays all the glacial detachment required by the role, theatrically resolved with a thunderous, meaty, robust, dark voice gifted with remarkable low notes and strong accents.”
Nicola Prisco, GBOpera
“George Gagnidze convincing in the role of Alfio, both for stage presence for the stentorian voice…”
Sergio Palumbo, Cultura spettacolo
“Restless was the Alfio of George Gagnidze, a Georgian baritone with a dark and technically controlled voice…”
Memorie dal loggione
Review
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25.10.2024
“George Gagnidze as Baron Scarpia is Haunting” “OperaWire reported back in January 2023 about George Gagnidze singing his 100th performance of Scarpia in “Tosca” on Jan. 21, 2023. In a statement, Gagnidze said, “The role of Scarpia has been having a great impact on my entire career. Almost 20 years ago, I made my debut in this thrilling part when I was a member of the company of the Osnabrück Opera in Germany. I feel very privileged to have since then had the honor to perform this character on so many great stages and with some of the best conductors. Even though ‘Tosca’ is one of Puccini’s most popular and most performed operas, I think it is also one of these eternal masterpieces one can see on stage countless times and every single time it is gripping. For us singers it is the same on stage, and my 100th performance on Saturday at the Gran Teatre del Liceu will certainly be as thrilling for me as the previous 99 shows.” The Met Opera’s choice, for this season, to pair Gagnidze with Aleksandra Kurzak was an excellent decision. Gagnidze’s baritone is bone-chilling good. His voice rattles the soul and definitely caused a stir in Kurzak’s soprano during the “Tosca’s kiss” scene. Realizing Gagnidze’s greatness in this role is easy, however, recognizing the how deeply his castmates resonate with his performance is an infinite process. This is something I am still thinking about today. Gagnidze’s voice and presence as Scarpia is timeless, leaving zero doubt about how much he has processed this role beforehand. But, there is also a newness in his portrayal, especially as he is attacking Tosca and not expecting her “kiss.” Gagnidze has a gift for staying in the present moment and not getting ahead of himself. He is also (as I wrote above about Kurzak as Tosca) verismo personified. His aria, “Va, Tosca! Nel tuo cor s’annida Scarpia”, at the end of Act one with the Met Opera Chorus (celebrating a religious mass procession at stage right) and the orchestra including bell tolls, the newly restored Æolian-Skinner pipe-organ, and two canons, is absolutely my favorite moment in this production and with this particular cast. Gagnidze’s voice is breathtaking and terrifyingly honest as his Scarpia promises to “dig a nest in Tosca’s heart.” I could listen to this single moment again and again, the chorus was fantastic and the pipe-organ roared. Scarpia’s aria in Act two, “Tosca è un buon falco!”, resonated in Gagnidze’s voice as he contemplated exactly how to trap Tosca, busying himself about his Palazzo Farnese. The light fell gently in through the window behind him, illuminating his evil plot and realizing the graveness of his existence. Gagnidze voices Scarpia’s plan with fortitude and frivolousness. His plan’s exactness lacks love and therefore opens the gates of hell to devour him whole. Gagnidze dives headfirst into Scarpia’s insanity. This is more than just evil or satanic, Gagnidze was made for this role. This is verismo at its finest!” Jennifer Pyron, Operawire
Review
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27.07.2024
El barítono de origen georgiano George Gagnidze es bien conocido en nuestro país por sus notables interpretaciones de roles de Verdi y Puccini, singularmente. El próximo domingo 4 de agosto, el XVI Festival Lírico Ópera Benicàssim acogerá un recital en solitario con su voz, acompañado al piano por José Manuel Frasquet.
Review
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27.06.2024
Reviews are brilliant for the new production of Khovanshchina and George Gagnidze's Shaklovity at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden:
Review
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01.05.2024
“With Verdi, the Georgian baritone gets along fully: Rigoletto, Nabucco, Miller, Simone are also among his signature roles. He takes on the multifaceted figure of the usurping monarch with a round, harmonically rich vocality, naturally wide-ranged and generous -- at times even almost overflowing -- but well controlled…” Gilberto Mion, Teatro about George Gagnidze's portrayal of Macbeth at the Teatro Comunale of Bologna, April 2024.
Interview
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12.04.2024
George Gagnidze was interviewed by GBOpera. Among the many topics he spoke with Giorgio Bagnoli are his return to Italy, his debut at the Teatro Comunale of Bologna, and the role he is singing there, Verdi's Macbeth.