He began his vocal career after a technical education. In 1965 he graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatoire (class prof. David Anguladze) and a few years later he finished his post-graduate course. From 1965 to 1974 he was a soloist of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre.From 1966 to 1968 he was probationer at La Scala (class maestro Barra), Milan. Since 1974 he has been a soloist of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. He's the People’s Artist of Georgia and USSR (1979).

Sotkilava's remarkable vocal qualities and perfect mastery of the "instrument" are enhanced by a striking dramatic talent. His beautiful, bright voice is highly esteemed among opera lovers both in Georgia and abroad. His repertoire includes almost all the main tenor roles:

- Abesalom (Paliashvili "Abesalom and Eteri"),
- Jose ("Karmen"),
- Cavaradossi ("Toska"),
- Calloandro ( La Molinara"),
- Vaudemont ("lolanta"),
- The Indian Guest ("Sadko"),\
- Count Golitsyn ("Khovanschina”),
- The Pretender ("Boris Godunov"),
- Otello ("Otello"),
- Radames( Aida"),
- Ricardo ("Un ballo in Maschera"),
- Izmael (“Nabucco”).

Zurab Sotkilava is considered one of the best performers of the part of Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. He is also much in demand as a concert artist in Georgia, Russia and abroad. In addition, he gives numerous concerts as a recitalist, his repertoire including romances by both Georgian and foreign composers as well as Russian, Neapolitan, Georgian and Mengrelian folk songs.

Professor at the Moscow State Conservatoire, Zurab Sotkilava is a winner of the State Prize of Georgia.