Andghuladze David

David Andghuladze (b. October 15, 1895, Bakhvi, modern-day Ozurgeti Municipality – d. November 29, 1973, Tbilisi) was a singer (dramatic tenor), People's Artist of Georgia (1941) and USSR (1950).

In 1925, he graduated from the Tbilisi State Conservatoire (Professor E. Vronsky's class). In 1926, Andghuladze made his debut on the stage of the Tbilisi Opera Theatre (Riccardo, G. Verdi's Un ballo in maschera). In the same season, he played the roles of Canio (R. Leoncavallo's Pagliacci), Radamès (G. Verdi's Aida) and Cavaradossi (G. Puccini's Tosca).

In 1927–1929, Andghuladze successfully performed Levko (N. Rimsky-Korsakov's May Night), Rodolfo (G. Puccini's La bohème), Grigoriy (M. Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov) and others on the stage of the Moscow State Stanislavsky Music Theatre. In 1929–1933, Andghuladze worked at the Tbilisi Opera Theatre again. Here he created the vocal-scenic faces of Don José (G. Bizet's Carmen) and Herman (P. Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades).

In 1933—1935, Andghuladze was a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In these years, he performed the roles of: Don José (G. Bizet's Carmen), Manrico, Radamès (G. Verdi's The Troubadour, Aida), Raoul (G. Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots). He is recognized as a great master of opera art. Andghuladze returned to Tbilisi in 1935. He earned high prise for his performance as Abesalom (Z. Paliashvili's Abesalom and Eteri) in the 1st decade of Georgian Art in Moscow (1937).

In 1949, Andghuladze successfully performed the part of Othello (G. Verdi's Othello).

A dramatic tenor with a wide range, a strong, beautiful timbre, acting talent and a handsome appearance helped Andghuladze to create a rich gallery of musical and stage faces. The singer toured many cities of the former USSR.

From 1946, Andghuladze was a teacher at the V. Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire, from 1958 – a professor (in 1967–1973 he was the head of the Department of Solo Singing). His disciples were Z. Anjaparidze, N. Andghuladze, Z. Sotkilava, E. Getsadze, T. Partsvania and others). He received the USSR State Prize, Z. Paliashvili Prize (in 1973) and other state awards.

Literature: ათანელოვი ი., დავით ანდღულაძე, თბ., 1978; დავით ანდღულაძე (წერილების კრებული), თბ., 1958.

M. Akhmeteli