First Georgian Opera Singer to Perform Zarzuela at Teatro De La Zarzuela In Madrid
By Mariam Chanishvili
Friday, March 2
Ketevan Kemoklidze was the first Georgian opera singer who sang zarzuela at Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid. She made her debut with role of Roberto in R. Chapi?s "La Tempestad" on February 16 and 18. Orchestra and Choir were led by the Spanish director, Guillermo Garcia Calvo.
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance.
Born in Tbilisi, Ketevan received Master’s degree at the V. Sarajishvili State Conservatoire.
In 2002, still a Conservatory student, Ketevan Kemoklidze made her debut as Maddalena in Rigoletto, title role in Amadigi and Emilia in Othello, distinguished by fine singing and promising quality.
She was awarded Special Prize of Teatro alla Scala at H.G. Belvedere competition and was admitted to the Academy of Teatro alla Scala without an entrance exam.
Kemoklidze is the winner of prestigious international vocal competitions including the P. Domingo’s Operalia, the Concourse International de Chant de la Ville de Toulouse, the F. Vinas Competition of Barcelona, the H.G. Belvedere International Competition in Vienna, the E. Obraztsova International Vocal Competition in Saint-Petersburg and the Georgian Musicians National and Youth Competitions.
Ketevan’s extraordinary vocal and stage skills attract major theaters of the world.
She is mostly known for: Ivan the Terrible and Alexander Nevsky on tour with St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under baton of Yuri Temirkanov at Donastia San-Sebastian Music Festival, at Annecy Classic Festival, at Sagra Musicale Malatestiana, at International Music Festival “MITO”. She appeared in Alexander Nevsky also at Palau de la Musica in Valencia.
She made her successful Sevilian debut in Berlioz's La mort de Cleopatre with ROSS.
In 2018, Ketevan sang with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra at Sanders Theater at Harvard University. She performed Carmen in Bizet's most popular opera staged by Edward Barkeley, under the baton of BYSO Music Director Federico Cortese.
Ketevan was titled as a marvelous all-round performer by Japan Times.
”Stunning in her looks and her acting, the elegant singer is fluid and kaleidoscopic in every nuance. Kemoklidze is more than just a singer; She is a marvelous all-round performer who truly brings her role to life on the stage,” stated Japan Times.
