Gonashvili Hamlet

Hamlet Gonashvili (b. June 20, 1928, village Anaga, present-day Sighnaghi Municipality – d. July 25, 1985, Tbilisi) was a singer, performer of Georgian folk songs, People's Artist of Georgia (1980). In 1950–1953, he studied at the Shota Rustaveli State Theatre Institute (present-day Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University) — simultaneously at the faculties of Film Acting and Theatre Studies. In 1973, he graduated from the choir and conducting department of the Z. Paliashvili Music School N2. In 1953–1969, Gonashvili was the leading singer of the State Ensemble of Georgian Folk Song and Dance. He continued the tradition established by his predecessors (the famous singer V. Mchedlishvili and others) – bringing the song closer to its original source, to the original rural manner of performance. In 1969–1985, Gonashvili worked in the Georgian Folk Song and Dance State Ensemble “Rustavi”. He successfully performed folk songs of Kartli-Kakheti and Imereti-Guria, Mingrelia and Abkhazia. Among them, the following have become part of the golden fund of Georgian folk songs: Tsintskaro, Gushin Shvidni Gurjanelni, Chona, Shavi Shashvi, Romelni Kerubimta, Tsmidao Ghmerto, Gaprindi, Shavo Mertskhalo and others. In addition to folk songs, Gonashvili also successfully performed songs by Georgian composers.

Gonashvili had a voice of rare beauty, soft timbre, virtuoso performance technique, and refined taste. His work is a kind of synthesis of the aesthetic ideals of Georgian and Western European classical music. He gave concerts with an ensemble both in Georgia and abroad.

Documentary film “Hamlet Gonashvili”, directed by Merab Gvantseladze, Georgian TV film, 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgvhXx8Avo4

E. Garakanidze