Artist Of The Week: Nino Machaidze Brings Vocal Beauty To Rossini’s ‘The Siege Of Corinth’

By Francisco Salazar

In 2008 a new star graced the stage of the Salzburg Festival in “Roméo et Juliette,” showcasing dramatic power and promising to become the next big star in the opera world. All eyes were on Nino Machaidze who many believed would follow a specific route in the lyric repertoire. However, after nine years of an immensely successful career, Machaidze has forged a unique path that has led her to stand out in not only the war horses of the operatic canon but also in rare works.

This week Machaidze continues to set herself apart as she makes her role debut as Pamira in “Le siège de Corinthe” at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. It’s a role that Beverly Sills famously took on at the Metropolitan Opera and one that is known for its coloratura demands as well as its long lyric lines. It’s also yet another Rossini role in the soprano’s repertoire, which is something most would have never expected. Machaidze has a darker timbre than would be expected for Rossini’s works but the soprano has defied expectations as she has already dominated some of the composer’s rare operas including “Otello,” “Il Turco in Italia,” “Il Viaggio a Reims” and “La Gazza Ladra,” which she sang in Pesaro. With Pamira, the Georgian soprano will not only get to inaugurate the festival but will also bring the work to there for the first time in a critical edition directed by  Carlus Padrissa of La Fura del Baus. Luca Pisaroni joins her in the star-studded cast while Roberto Abbado conducts. 

For those who won’t get a chance to see the star soprano in her signature repertoire, Machaidze will continue her unique path this year singing the title role of Violetta in “La Traviata” at the Teatro San Carlo, Leila in “Les Pêcheurs de perles” at the LA opera and Juliette in “Roméo et Juliette” at the Badisches Staatstheater. She also makes her role debut as Nedda in “Pagliacci” at the Grand-Théâtre de Genève. 

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