Natela Nicoli Chkoniawas born in Georgia into a reputed family of singers. She completed her studies in piano
and voice with distinction and perfected her talent with Renata Scotto, KS Christa Ludwig.
After her debut at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Natela Nicoli Chkonia moved to Austria, where she has been living
since 1991. She was for several years a permanent member of the Graz Opera, where she performed important roles such
as Octavian, Carmen, Cenerentola, Rosina, Brangдne in "Tristan und Isolde", Meg Page in "Falstaff", Dorabella in "Le
Nozze di Figaro", and Maddalena in "Rigoletto".
For her outstanding interpretation of Bizet's Carmen, Ms. Nicoli received the Opera Award in Germany in 1994. In 1996
she was offered Austrian citizenship due to her extraordinary artistic contributions to society.
Ms.Natela Nicoli Chkonia was invited to sing at the most extinguished theatres and opera houses worldwide,
appearing several times at the Salzburg Festival under the direction of Ivor Bolton and Christoph von Dohnanyi. She
has produced a CD "ADAGIO" with Edita Gruberova in Munich (Philharmonie im Gasteig) with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra,
followed by performances at the Vienna Musikverein, Teatro Comunale di Firenze conducted by Fabio Luisi, Vienna
Konzerthaus under the direction of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vienna Volksoper, and Deutsche Oper Berlin. In 2005
Ms. Natela Nicoli Chkonia toured Germany with Verdi’s Requiem under the direction of Fabio Luisi and
travelled to Ljubliana and St Pцlten for the world premiere of J. Offenbach’s romantic opera “Die Rheinnixen”
in the role of Hedwig.
Natela Nicoli Chkonia has sung under the direction of renowned conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Denis Russel
Davis, Ivor Bolton, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Philippe Jordan, Dimitrij Kitajenko, Jury Bashmet,
Sylvain Cambreling, Martin Haselbock, Michail Jurowski, Milan Horvat, Ernst Marzendorfer, Emil Tabakov and Thomas Herzog.
Highlights 2006-2007:
January 2006, Mozart’s Requiem at the New Year Music Festival in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia April 2006;
February 2006, Arias and duets with soprano Eteri Lamoris Chkonia for Nacht der Wiener Wirtschaft, and „Aus der Tiefe der russischen Seele”, Liederabend at Grazer Congress Kammermusiksaal;
March 2006, Mozart’s Requiem at Grazer Stefaniensaal;
April 2006, Zarzuela-Matinee in Basel under the direction of Thomas Herzog;
April-May 2006, Wiener Volksoper Evangelimann (Magdalena);
March 2007, Pulcinella Suite with the Niederosterreichische Tonkunstler;
April 2007, Concerts under the direction of Fabio Luisi in Weimar and Leipzig.
