Abesalom da Eteri: a glimpse into the Georgian soul

Abesalom da Eteri

By Dominic Lowe, 22 September 2025

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“costumes are lavish and evoke the medieval origins of the source material”

Reviewed at Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Tbilisi on 14 September 2025

Paliashvili, Abesalom da Eteri

Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi

Zaza Azmaiparashvili, Conductor

Gizo Zhordania, Director

Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili, Set Designer, Costume Designer, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Tbilisi Z Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre

Chorus of the Tbilisi Z Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theatre

Giorgi Sturua, Prince Abesalom

Khatuna Chokhonelidze, Eteri

Kakhaber Tetvadze, King Abio

Irina Aleksidze, Queen Natela

Marika Machitidze, Marikh

Nikoloz Lagvilava, Murman

Irina Sherazadishvili, Naana

Tamaz Saginadze, Tandarukh

Gia Makharadze, The Guest

Zviad Khukhua, Majordomo

Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvili

Iliko Sukhishvili, Choreography

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.