OPERA ORCESTRA OF NEW YORK

Eve Queler,   MUSIC DIRECTOR

I heard Mzia Nioradze for the first time in the contralto role of Maddalena in Verdi‘ s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera several years ago. I was immediately struck by the sound and color of her voice and I engaged her to sing the difficult role of Tigrana in Puccini’ s opera Edgar.

I have had the opportunity to work with Mzia Nioradze on two occasions when she sang two roles in concert performances of Rimsky Korsakov’ s opera The  Tsars’ Bride with Opera Orchestra of New York. Ms Nioradze is a rare kind of voice. She is mezzo contralto. This means that she can sing the very low roles of the alto repertory which in today’s market is very unusual. Also the quality of the voice is exceptional. So I was able to cast her in the dramatic contralto role of Luybasha for one performance and in the mezzo role of Danyusha for another performance.

Mzia Nioradze is also a consummate musician and I would heartily recommend her for any musical assignment to any conductor or theater. She would be a very useful addition to the US market of available singers as for much of this repertory we have to import artists from Europe.

Eve Queler

Music Director