Georgian mezzo-soprano Mzia Nioradze is one of the most experienced opera singers of our time.
She has received worldwide acclaim from the world's best opera houses such as the New York's Metropolitan Opera and Bastille Opera Paris (France) and has been a leading soloist on opera stages around the world including the USA, UK, France, Italy, Georgia, Russia, Israel, Switzerland, and others.
Her unique mezzo-soprano vocal register is widely recognized as a rare and very valuable resource in preserving the authenticity of contemporary performances (she is able to sing both the low contralto repertory and the higher mezzo-soprano roles of the operatic and symphonic repertory).
She has been honored with numerous awards and titles of laureate of international vocal competitions and festivals in Russia and Austria.
Articles raving about Ms. Nioradze’s performances in operas have been published in major world outlets, such as «The New York Times», «The Washington Post», «The Culture» and others throughout the United States and internationally.
Mzia Nioradze graduated from the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire and in 1994 went on to study at the Accademia d'Arte Lirica di Osimo in Italy. From 1991 to 1992 – Mzia was the soloist at the Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet Theater in Tbilisi, where she performed the lead roles in «Don Carlos», «Troubadour», «Rigoletto», «Daisi», «Abesalom and Eteri».
In 1996, Mzia’s debut took place on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater in the title/lead role of “Carmen.” She has since performed all the female lead roles in Verdi’s operas, as well as leading mezzo-soprano and contralto roles in various operas by Russian composers. Nioradze has toured in Israel with the Mariinsky Theatre and in 1999, Ms. Nioradze won the Elena Obraztsova International Competition for Young Singers in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 2000, Ms. Nioradze sang the role of Elena Bezukhovatook in a reinvented production of “War and Peace” at the Opéra de Paris, France.
In 2001 Mzia Nioradze made her first US appearance in the role of Konchakovna in a new production of “Prince Igor” at the Houston Grand Opera, Texas.
In 2002, Ms. Nioradze made her Metropolitan Opera debut in “War and Peace” performing the roles of Elena Bezkhova, Matriosha and Mavra Kusminichna, and was also featured as Maddalena in “Rigoletto”, conducted by Placido Domingo.
In 2003, Ms. Nioradze made her debut at the San Francisco Opera in «Carmen». In all the cities of the United States, audiences and critics enthusiastically welcomed Ms. Nioradze. She also sang Jejibaba in «Rusalka» at the Lyon Opera in France that year. Ms. Nioradze gained international attention and praise for her performances of Azucena in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”in Marseille, France.
In 2004-2005, Ms. Nioradze returned to her native Georgia to perform in Verdi’s «Aida» and Verdi’s “Requiem.”
In 2005, Ms. Nioradze had a great success as Federica in Verdi’s «Luisa Miller», staged by the Dallas Opera, Texas, USA. She later sang in Bologna and Modena in Italy, did a recording of Verdi’s Requiem and aired on the main national tv-channel NPO in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In the 2006-07 season, Ms. Nioradze has appeared on opera stages in France, and had also performed brilliantly in Latin America: Santiago (Chile) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
The 2008-2009 season brought Ms. Nioradze back to The Metropolitan Operain NYC where she sang Ulrica in «Un ballo in Maschera», Azucena in «Il Trovatore» at Opera de Lausanne (Switzerland), La Zia Principessa in «Suor Angelica» at Florida Grand Opera, Adalgisa in «Norma» at Opera de Massy (France). She returned to Lyon (France), as Marina Mnishek in «Boris Godunov» and sang Delilah in St. Petersburg (Russia) conducted by Tugan Sokhiev. At that time, Ms. Nioradze also sang - Fhilipievna at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in Tchaikovsky’s "Eugene Onegin" and performed in Rimsky-Korsakov’s «The Tsar’s Bride» at Carnegie Hall in an Opera Orchestra of New York production.
In 2010, Ms. Nioradze recorded the role of Azucena with Marcelo Alvarez at the Teatro Regio di Parma (Italy) and performed the role of Azucena in «Il Trovatore» with Opera de Massy in Paris (France).
In the following 2011-2012 season Mzia shone once again on the Metropolitan Opera stage as Ulrica in «Un ballo in Maschera», Azucena in «Il Trovatore» at the Opera di Avignon (France) and Amneris in «Aida» with the Oslo Opera (Norway). During the 2013-14 season, Ms. Nioradze performed Azucena in “ Il Trovatore” at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, and in Telaviv, Israel. She also perfomed as Marina Mnishek in «Boris Godunov”, Mistress Quickly in «Falstaff» at the Glyndebourne Festival (the UK), Azucena in «Il Trovatore» at the Aurora Opera House (Malta) and Timisoara Opera (Romania).
In 2014, Mzia was a guest artist at the Latvian National Opera and Vilnius Opera (Lithuania) where she performed the roles of Azucena in «Il Trovatore» and Ulrica in «Un ballo in Maschera».
In the 2015-16 season, Ms. Nioradze returned again to The Metropolitan Opera singing the role of Marta in «Iolanta» and Azucena in «Il Trovatore».
In 2018, she returned to the Mariinsky Opera House (Russia), where she sang in «Aida».
In 2019, Mzia Nioradze delighted listeners with her debut as Countess in «The Queen of Spades» at the Vilnius City Opera House (Lithuania).
In 2019 to mid-2020, Ms. Nioradze performed at the Mariinsky Theater (Russia) with the role of Countess in «Queen of Spades», Verdi «Il Trovatore», the lead role of "Azucena", and Amneris in «Aida».
On December 13, 2023, the Mayor of New York City Eric Adams awarded Mzia Nioradze with an Honorable Mention: «Mzia is an authentic force for public good. Her drive, generosity, and unparalleled resolve have not only carried her great success and prosperity, but they have also redefined her field and strengthened her community".
On December 21, 2023, Ms. Nioradze performed at the Holocaust Remembrance Evening at Brooklyn College, NYC and received the Certificate of Appreciation «for generous contribution toward supporting the people of Israel during these devastating times».
This 2024-2025 season, Mzia Nioradze will return to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as Countess in «Queen of Spades».
She has received worldwide acclaim from the world's best opera houses such as the New York's Metropolitan Opera and Bastille Opera Paris (France) and has been a leading soloist on opera stages around the world including the USA, UK, France, Italy, Georgia, Russia, Israel, Switzerland, and others.
Her unique mezzo-soprano vocal register is widely recognized as a rare and very valuable resource in preserving the authenticity of contemporary performances (she is able to sing both the low contralto repertory and the higher mezzo-soprano roles of the operatic and symphonic repertory).
She has been honored with numerous awards and titles of laureate of international vocal competitions and festivals in Russia and Austria.
Articles raving about Ms. Nioradze’s performances in operas have been published in major world outlets, such as «The New York Times», «The Washington Post», «The Culture» and others throughout the United States and internationally.
Mzia Nioradze graduated from the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire and in 1994 went on to study at the Accademia d'Arte Lirica di Osimo in Italy. From 1991 to 1992 – Mzia was the soloist at the Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet Theater in Tbilisi, where she performed the lead roles in «Don Carlos», «Troubadour», «Rigoletto», «Daisi», «Abesalom and Eteri».
In 1996, Mzia’s debut took place on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater in the title/lead role of “Carmen.” She has since performed all the female lead roles in Verdi’s operas, as well as leading mezzo-soprano and contralto roles in various operas by Russian composers. Nioradze has toured in Israel with the Mariinsky Theatre and in 1999, Ms. Nioradze won the Elena Obraztsova International Competition for Young Singers in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 2000, Ms. Nioradze sang the role of Elena Bezukhovatook in a reinvented production of “War and Peace” at the Opéra de Paris, France.
In 2001 Mzia Nioradze made her first US appearance in the role of Konchakovna in a new production of “Prince Igor” at the Houston Grand Opera, Texas.
In 2002, Ms. Nioradze made her Metropolitan Opera debut in “War and Peace” performing the roles of Elena Bezkhova, Matriosha and Mavra Kusminichna, and was also featured as Maddalena in “Rigoletto”, conducted by Placido Domingo.
In 2003, Ms. Nioradze made her debut at the San Francisco Opera in «Carmen». In all the cities of the United States, audiences and critics enthusiastically welcomed Ms. Nioradze. She also sang Jejibaba in «Rusalka» at the Lyon Opera in France that year. Ms. Nioradze gained international attention and praise for her performances of Azucena in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”in Marseille, France.
In 2004-2005, Ms. Nioradze returned to her native Georgia to perform in Verdi’s «Aida» and Verdi’s “Requiem.”
In 2005, Ms. Nioradze had a great success as Federica in Verdi’s «Luisa Miller», staged by the Dallas Opera, Texas, USA. She later sang in Bologna and Modena in Italy, did a recording of Verdi’s Requiem and aired on the main national tv-channel NPO in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In the 2006-07 season, Ms. Nioradze has appeared on opera stages in France, and had also performed brilliantly in Latin America: Santiago (Chile) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).
The 2008-2009 season brought Ms. Nioradze back to The Metropolitan Operain NYC where she sang Ulrica in «Un ballo in Maschera», Azucena in «Il Trovatore» at Opera de Lausanne (Switzerland), La Zia Principessa in «Suor Angelica» at Florida Grand Opera, Adalgisa in «Norma» at Opera de Massy (France). She returned to Lyon (France), as Marina Mnishek in «Boris Godunov» and sang Delilah in St. Petersburg (Russia) conducted by Tugan Sokhiev. At that time, Ms. Nioradze also sang - Fhilipievna at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in Tchaikovsky’s "Eugene Onegin" and performed in Rimsky-Korsakov’s «The Tsar’s Bride» at Carnegie Hall in an Opera Orchestra of New York production.
In 2010, Ms. Nioradze recorded the role of Azucena with Marcelo Alvarez at the Teatro Regio di Parma (Italy) and performed the role of Azucena in «Il Trovatore» with Opera de Massy in Paris (France).
In the following 2011-2012 season Mzia shone once again on the Metropolitan Opera stage as Ulrica in «Un ballo in Maschera», Azucena in «Il Trovatore» at the Opera di Avignon (France) and Amneris in «Aida» with the Oslo Opera (Norway). During the 2013-14 season, Ms. Nioradze performed Azucena in “ Il Trovatore” at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, and in Telaviv, Israel. She also perfomed as Marina Mnishek in «Boris Godunov”, Mistress Quickly in «Falstaff» at the Glyndebourne Festival (the UK), Azucena in «Il Trovatore» at the Aurora Opera House (Malta) and Timisoara Opera (Romania).
In 2014, Mzia was a guest artist at the Latvian National Opera and Vilnius Opera (Lithuania) where she performed the roles of Azucena in «Il Trovatore» and Ulrica in «Un ballo in Maschera».
In the 2015-16 season, Ms. Nioradze returned again to The Metropolitan Opera singing the role of Marta in «Iolanta» and Azucena in «Il Trovatore».
In 2018, she returned to the Mariinsky Opera House (Russia), where she sang in «Aida».
In 2019, Mzia Nioradze delighted listeners with her debut as Countess in «The Queen of Spades» at the Vilnius City Opera House (Lithuania).
In 2019 to mid-2020, Ms. Nioradze performed at the Mariinsky Theater (Russia) with the role of Countess in «Queen of Spades», Verdi «Il Trovatore», the lead role of "Azucena", and Amneris in «Aida».
On December 13, 2023, the Mayor of New York City Eric Adams awarded Mzia Nioradze with an Honorable Mention: «Mzia is an authentic force for public good. Her drive, generosity, and unparalleled resolve have not only carried her great success and prosperity, but they have also redefined her field and strengthened her community".
On December 21, 2023, Ms. Nioradze performed at the Holocaust Remembrance Evening at Brooklyn College, NYC and received the Certificate of Appreciation «for generous contribution toward supporting the people of Israel during these devastating times».
This 2024-2025 season, Mzia Nioradze will return to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as Countess in «Queen of Spades».