Birth

:

February 12, 1955 in Tbilisi, Gerogia

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Paata Burchuladze is a world-renowned Georgian bass opera singer, philanthropist, and politician. He was born on February 12, 1955, in Tbilisi, Georgia, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Burchuladze grew up in a family of musicians, and his father was a well-known Georgian composer. From a young age, Burchuladze showed a keen interest in music and began singing in the choir of the Georgian Patriarchate. Burchuladze received his formal music education at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, where he studied under the tutelage of the renowned Georgian bassist, Zurab Andzhaparidze. After completing his studies, Burchuladze made his professional debut in 1976 at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, where he performed the role of Ramfis in Verdi's Aida. Burchuladze's talent was quickly recognized, and he was invited to perform at various opera houses throughout the Soviet Union. In 1980, he won first prize at the All-Union Vocal Competition in Moscow, which marked the beginning of his international career. Burchuladze made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1984, where he performed the role of Zaccaria in Verdi's Nabucco. He went on to perform at other prestigious opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera. Burchuladze is known for his powerful and resonant bass voice, which has been described as "dark and velvety." He has performed a wide range of roles, including the title role in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, King Philip II in Verdi's Don Carlos, and the Grand Inquisitor in Verdi's Don Carlo. Burchuladze has also performed in several operas by Georgian composers, including Zakaria Paliashvili's Abesalom da Eteri and Giya Kancheli's Music for the Living. In addition to his successful opera career, Burchuladze has also been involved in philanthropic work. In 1995, he founded the International Foundation for the Support of Culture, which aims to promote cultural exchange and support young artists. The foundation has organized numerous concerts and festivals, including the Tbilisi International Opera Festival, which Burchuladze founded in 2009. Burchuladze's political career began in 2012 when he founded the Georgian Dream party, which aimed to challenge the ruling United National Movement. The party won a landslide victory in the 2012 parliamentary elections, and Burchuladze was elected to parliament. However, he resigned from politics in 2016, citing disagreements with the party leadership. Throughout his career, Burchuladze has received numerous awards and honors. In 1997, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Georgia, and in 2000, he was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia. He has also been awarded the Order of Merit by the President of Italy and the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. In conclusion, Paata Burchuladze is a highly respected and accomplished opera singer, philanthropist, and politician. His powerful bass voice and impressive range of roles have earned him international acclaim, and his philanthropic work has helped to promote cultural exchange and support young artists. Burchuladze's political career may have been short-lived, but his contributions to Georgian society and culture will be remembered for years to come.

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