On Dec. 8, 2018 George Gagnidze will sing his 100th performance at the Metropolitan Opera as Michele in “Il Tabarro” in the centennial production of Puccini’s “Il Trittico.” 

The Georgian baritone has been a fixture at the Met since his house debut in the title role of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in 2009. Since then he has returned to the Metropolitan Opera every season.

As “Rigoletto” he not only appeared in the classic Otto Schenk staging in 2009 and 2010, he also performed the role in the current production by Michael Mayer in 2013 and 2015. Gagnidze has also performed the title role in Verdi’s “Macbeth,” Amonasro in Verdi’s “Aida” and Shaklovity in Mussorgsky’s “Khovanshchina.”

Gagnidze opened the Metropolitan Opera’s season in 2009 singing Scarpia in the premiere of Luc Bondy’s new production of Puccini’s “Tosca,” and in 2015 he sang Alfio in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Tonio in Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” in the premiere of David McVicar’s new production of the double bill. 

This season Gagnidze made his role debut as Michele and will return next year to reprise the title role of “Rigoletto.”