The leading dramatic tenor of Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow, Badri Maisuradze was born in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia 13 of November, 1966. Growing in a family of musicants, he was a winner of two USSR contests for children and participated in the recording of the operafor children “A birthday of a small violet” by L. Robitashvili at the age of 8.
After finishing his studies as dramatic actor, Badri Maisuradze participated in a number of performances of Tbilisian Dramatic Theatre and took part in several films by famous Georgian directors (among those are “The Nylon New Years’ Three” by R.Esadze, “New Year” by G.Shengelidze, K.Melitauri, “First Love” by G.Shengelaya, M.Gyaureli).
During the performance of Brecht’s “Three-penny opera” Badri Maisuradze was spotted by a distinguished Georgian tenor Zurab Andzhaparidze who advised him to join the Tbilisian Conservatory. Maisuradze’s formation of a singer was led by his teacher, professor Georgiy Bezhuashvili.
Finished his studies, Maisuradze joined the Bolshoy Theatre of Moscow on probation period, where he was training with Zurab Sotkilava. There he had an opportunity to attend the guest performances of European opera companies and the master classes of such stars as Carlo Bergonzi, Alfredo Kraus and Joan Sutherland.
Badri Maisuradze made his operatic debut in Tbilisi, singing the title role in Otar Taktakishvili's Mindia. It was followed by the main role in Paliashvili's Abessalom and Eteri at the opening of Batumi's Opera Theatre – few years later, as the Civil War in Georgia has started. With his friend’s Paata Burchuladze help, his performances attracted interest of various foreign impresarios. Badri Maisuradze made his international debut in Liege in 1993, performing the role of Dimitry in Boris Godunov. He was the winner of two contests – Francisco Vinas in Barcelona and Hussi Bjoerling in Sweden (both in 1994). He appeared with distinguished success in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, South Africa y etc.
While singing a concert in Moscow Conservatory he impressed A. Tchistyakov who immediately invited him to the Bolshoy staff almost without any further audition. Badri Maisuradze already has had an offer from Mariinsky Theatre, but resolved to choose Bolshoy – and never did regret it. There Maisuradze sings the first roles for 9 continuous seasons, taking part in the premieres of Lucia di Lamermoor, La Traviata, Aida, Norma, la Forza del Destino as well as in performances of Un Ballo in Maschera and Tosca.
In 1996 he sang for the first time his best role of Radames in Aida, in Melbourne (with Liza Gasteen). The next year his work with Maurizio Arena led to a stunning performance of Manon Lescaut in Toronto. In 1997 he returns to Radames, now in Bolshoy, joining for the special New Years performance (30th of December) the star cast (Makhvala Kasrashvili, Elena Obrastzova, Yuriy Mazurok, Tigran Martirosian, conducted by A.Zhuraitis). In 1998 he is singing Radames again, at the opening of Madrid’s Teatro Reale.
In 1999 he had his La Scala debut in the role of Andrey in Mazeppa by Chaykovsky. The event conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich was broadcasted on RAI. A year later he made a successful debut in Wiener Staatsoper as Cavaradossi in Tosca (conducted by A.Guadagno, with A.Mazzola-Gavazzeni). In 2002 he sings Alvaro in a run of performances of la Forza del Destino at Bolshoy, the opera being performed for the first ever time in Moscow. A big personal success he had in 2002 while singing Radames in Berlin’s Deutsche Opera (with A.Papian and L.Ataneli), and in 2003 as Riccardo from un Ballo in Maschera in Dresden.
Badri Maisuradze appears in major opera houses, including Berlin’s Deutsche Opera (Aida, Trovatore, Nabucco), Real of Madrid (Aida, Ernani, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk), Liceo of Barcelona (Un Ballo in Maschera), Communale of Florence (Madam Butterfly), San Carlo of Naples (Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk), Mariinsky of St-Petersburg (Aida). He is also a frequent guest in Australia (where he sang in Aida, Samson and Dalila, Pagliacci), Canada (Giovanna d’Arco, Manon Lescaut, Madam Butterfly, Tosca – all in Toronto), Lithuania (Aida, Tosca, Verdi’s Requiem, Pagliacci), Slovakia (Aida). Badri Maisuradze gave concerts in Ireland, Spain, Holland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, as well as in various cities in Georgia and Russia.
In 2003 he made his debut in Verdi’s Otello in Malmo, the role he successfully repeated next year in Stockholm and Copenhawn. In the 2004 he also sang in Bolshoy Theatre (in Tosca and in un Ballo in Maschera), Budapest (the main roles in both Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliaccia), Lithuania (an open-air Tosca), Teatre la Monnaie of Bruxelles (Aida), etc.
The 2005 year Badri Maisuradze opened with the performances of a V act version of Don Carlo by Verdi at Stockholm’s Royal Opera, following it by Radames in Semper Oper, Otello in Tallin, Alvaro from La forza del Destino in Vilnius, Cavaradossi in Dalhalla, Sweden and regular appearances at Bolshoy Theatre of Moscow.
Later this year he is to sing at the premiere of War and Peace by Prokofiev, performance being conducted at Bolshoy Theatre by Mstislav Rostropovich. Further engagements include Manrico from il Trovatore in Stockholm’s Royal Opera, Andrei from Khovanshina by Mussorgsky in La Scala of Milan, performances of Otello, Aida, la Forza del Destino in various theatres and concerts, including his Carnegie Hall debut in a joint concert.
Badri Maisuradze collaborated with such a conductors like M.Arena, M.Barbaccini, G.Bertini, R.Bradshow, V.Fedoseev, G.Gergiev, A.Guadagno, G.Navarro, G.Nozeda, D.Oren, S.Ozawa, C.Rizzi, S.Soltezs, R.Tolomelli, A.Vedernikov, M.Viotti. Especially fruitful was the collaboration with M.Rostropovich that extended a mostly Italian repertory with the music by Shostakovich, Beethoven and Britten. Apart of his singing career, Badri Maisuradze is giving voice lessons, associated with Galina Vishnevskaya’s Centre for Opera Singing.
Badri Maisuradze currently lives in Moscow, married and is a happy father of two children.