Mzia Nioradze

Georgian mezzo-soprano Mzia Nioradze is a highly acclaimed opera singer, celebrated for her versatility and powerful performances. She has graced prestigious stages worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera (New York), Bastille Opera (Paris), and many others across the USA, UK, France, Italy, Georgia, Russia, Israel, and Switzerland.

A graduate of the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire and the Accademia d'Arte Lirica di Osimo in Italy, Nioradze began her career as a soloist at the Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet Theater in Tbilisi, performing lead roles in "Don Carlos," "Troubadour," "Rigoletto," "Daisi," and "Abesalom and Eteri." Her international debut came in 1996 at the Mariinsky Theater in the title role of "Carmen." She has toured in Israel with the Mariinsky Theatre and in 1999 won the Elena Obraztsova International Competition for Young Singers in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 2000, Nioradze performed the role of Elena Bezukhovatook in a reinvented production of “War and Peace” at the Opéra de Paris, France. She made her first US appearance in 2001 as Konchakovna in a new production of “Prince Igor” at the Houston Grand Opera, Texas. Her Metropolitan Opera debut came in 2002 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, Nioradze debuted at the San Francisco Opera in "Carmen" and performed Ježibaba in "Rusalka" at the Lyon Opera in France. She gained international attention and praise for her performance of Azucena in Verdi’s "Il Trovatore" in Marseille, France. From 2004 to 2005, she returned to Georgia to perform in Verdi’s "Aida" and "Requiem."

In 2005, she found great success as Federica in Verdi’s "Luisa Miller" at the Dallas Opera, Texas, USA. She later performed in Bologna and Modena in Italy, recorded Verdi’s Requiem, and appeared on the main national TV channel NPO in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

During the 2006-07 season, Nioradze appeared on opera stages in France, and Latin America, including Santiago (Chile) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The 2008-2009 season brought her back to the Metropolitan Opera in 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, and Adalgisa in "Norma" at Opera de Massy (France). She also performed as Marina Mnishek in "Boris Godunov" in Lyon (France), and Delilah in St. Petersburg (Russia) conducted by Tugan Sokhiev. Additionally, she sang Filippyevna 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 with the Opera Orchestra of New York.

In 2010, Nioradze recorded the role of Azucena with Marcelo Alvarez at the Teatro Regio di Parma (Italy) and performed Azucena in "Il Trovatore" with Opera de Massy in Paris (France). The 2011-2012 season saw her return to the Metropolitan Opera 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, Nioradze performed Azucena in "Il Trovatore" at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, and in Tel Aviv, Israel. She also performed as Marina Mnishek in "Boris Godunov," Mistress Quickly in "Falstaff" at the Glyndebourne Festival (UK), Azucena in "Il Trovatore" at the Aurora Opera House (Malta), and Timisoara Opera (Romania). In 2014, she was a guest artist at the Latvian National Opera and Vilnius Opera (Lithuania), performing Azucena in "Il Trovatore" and Ulrica in "Un ballo in Maschera."

In the 2015-16 season, Nioradze returned to The Metropolitan Opera, singing the roles of Marta in "Iolanta" and Azucena in "Il Trovatore." In 2018, she returned to the Mariinsky Opera House (Russia) to perform in "Aida." In 2019, she made her debut as Countess in "The Queen of Spades" at the Vilnius City Opera House (Lithuania) and continued performing at the Mariinsky Theater (Russia) in "Queen of Spades," "Il Trovatore," and "Aida."

On December 13, 2023, the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, awarded Nioradze with an Honorable Mention, recognizing her as "an authentic force for public good,” and stating that “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, she performed at the Holocaust Remembrance Evening at Brooklyn College, NYC, and received a Certificate of Appreciation for her support of the Israeli community.

This 2024-2025 season, Nioradze will return to the Metropolitan Opera as Countess in "Queen of Spades," continuing her legacy of captivating performances.