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

Romeo Castellucci directs a new Pelléas et Mélisande at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 26th April

The Italian director makes his long-awaited Italian operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in a production which perfectly mirrors Debussy’s most enigmatic creation.

****1

Chiaroscuro extinguished: a self-indulgent Poppea in Copenhagen

Mengguang Huang, 26th April

Christoph Marthaler’s staging of Monteverdi’s Poppea for the Royal Danish Opera is a study in boredom.

**111

Wretches like us: the LPO’s concert Wozzeck cuts to the quick

Peter Quantrill, 25th April

Beautifully prepared singing and playing brings out the tender side to Berg's modernist classic as part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.

****1

Lepage’s Bluebeard and Erwartung pairing remains compelling theatre

John Gilks, 25th April

Some 30 years after its first appearance, Robert Lepage’s double bill of Duke Bluebeards Castle and Erwartung is still strikingly effective and very modern-looking music theatre.

*****

Trojan’s Carousel: a magical night of dreams come true in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 23rd April

A vintage opera at the National Theatre offers charming adventures for children and musical sophistication for adults.

*****

A sorta fairy tale: Sleepers Awake premieres at Opera Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 22nd April

A new opera by Gregory Spears subverts the Sleeping Beauty trope, with middling results.

**111

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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.