Georgian Opera Stars Accuse Tbilisi Opera Theatre of Corruption and Poor Management

Georgian opera stars such as Mzia Nioradze, Tamar Iveri, Nana Kavtarashvili, Anita Rachvelishvili, and Lado Ataneli, and members of the Tbilisi opera choir, have called their artistic director Davit Kintsurashvili "unprofessional" for only presenting three operas in the two years of his leadership.

Principal Soloist of the Met Opera, Mzia Nioradze, said, "In the two years of Kintsurashvili as artistic director, there have been no artistic councils. Only now, following a recent meeting with the Minister of Culture to bring our complaints to light, was it suggested and a council formed. It's unimaginable for any theater in the world to function without an artistic council. Now, the soloists are stuck without a repertoire. If a singer does not sing on stage for a year or two, it can be the end of their career!"

According to reports, they are also accusing the opera head of redistributing 335,000 GEL among 17 members. Soprano Tamar Iveri said to GEORGIA TODAY, "The book-keeper received 21,000 GEL. This all happens while not a single soloist or choir singer has received an extra penny as a bonus."

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