Tbilisi, Georgia: The Georgian Ministry of Culture and Sports honors Vano Sarajishvili’s memory and his significant contribution to the development of Georgian culture.
One hundred forty-five years have passed since the birth of the prominent Georgian singer and People’s Artist of Georgia, Vano Sarajishvili.
Vano Sarajishvili sang in the pupil’s group while studying at Tbilisi Secondary Gymnasium. In 1898, he started studying at Tbilisi Music School (Cello Class). At the same time, he was singing in the group of the famous lobar, Sandro Kavsadze.
Vano Sarajishvili’s debut in 1907 was successful in St. Petersburg. In Giuseppe Verde’s opera “Traviata,” he performed Alfred’s part. In 1906-1908, it was performed on the stages of Italy (Milan, “La Scala”; Parma Opera House) and Russia (St. Petersburg).
In 1908, the singer returned to Georgia but continued to perform in opera theaters in other countries.
Vano Sarajishvili’s significant role in developing Georgian opera art is remarkable. V. Sarajishvili was the first and, mostly, the best performer of Georgian professional opera repertoire tenor parties. Among them are the parties of Absalom and Malkhazi (z. Paliashvili’s “Absalom and Ether,” “Daisi”), Shota, Meurme (d. Arakishvili’s “Saying about Shota Rustaveli”), Kote (v. Dolidze’s “Keto and Kote”), Asani (R. Gogniashvili’s “Christine”) and many others.
From European opera repertoire, he successfully performed the parts of Radames, Duke, Alfred (J. Verdi’s “Aida,” “Rigoletto,” “Traviata”), Don Jose, hunt (j. Bize’s “Carmen,” “Pearl Finders”), Lohengrin (R. Wagner’s “Lohengrin”), Faust (etc. Guno’s Faust), Almaviva (j. Rossini’s “Seville plate”), Pinkerton, Cavarados (j. Puccini’s “Chio-Chio-Sani,” “Toska”), Lensky, German (p. Tchaikovsky’s “Evgeny Onegin,” “Woman of the Peak”) and others.
Because of his unique voice and stage data, Vano Sarajishvili deeply loved the Georgian people. People called him “Georgia’s Nightingale.”
In 1947, the Tbilisi State Conservatory was named after Vano Sarajishvili.
