Georgian pop artists. The most famous and beautiful Georgians in history

Kathy Melua (born September 16, 1984, Kutaisi, Georgia) - popular British singer, songwriter and songwriter.

Ketevan was born in Georgia, at the age of 8 she moved to Northern Ireland, and at the age of 14 - to England. Melua works with a small record label called Dramatico, led by renowned musician and composer Mike Batt.

Her debut took place in 2003. And since 2006, Katie has become the best-selling singer in the UK and Europe.
In November 2003, when Katy was only 19 years old, her first album "Call Off the Search" was released, received 10 top positions throughout Europe and was certified gold in Holland, Hong Kong and Switzerland, platinum in Denmark, New Zealand and Australia, double platinum in Germany, Ireland, Norway and South Africa. Over 2 million copies have been sold in Europe. In 2005, the album became the best in Japan. In Britain, the album was certified 6 times platinum. Her second album, Piece by Piece, was released in September 2005 and has since gone 4x platinum.

Grigory Leps (Lepsveridze) - a popular Russian singer and songwriter of Georgian origin, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Today Grigory Leps is one of the most beloved singers of the modern stage.
He is loved for his powerful voice and rare charisma. He is the idol of women and strong in spirit men. Leps - real example courage on our stage. The owner of a vocal that is unique in range and color, he sings every time, like the last one - on the nerve, soul and heart. Therefore, what is done is close and understandable to many. Therefore, each new work of his becomes an event.
Awards and achievements

2007 - Golden Gramophone Award (duet with Irina Allegrova "I don't believe you").
2008 - National music award"Muz-TV" in the nomination " Best duet of the year" (duet with Irina Allegrova "I don't believe you").
2008 - Award "Record-2008" in the nomination "Artist's Album" (for the biggest sales of the album "My whole life is a road ...").
2008 - Golden Gramophone Award (duet with Stas Piekha "She's not yours").
2009 - National Music Award "Muz-TV" in the nomination "Best duet of the year" (duet with Stas Piekha "She's not yours").
2009 - Leonid Utesov Prize (received from the hands of Valery Leontiev on the Song of the Year).
2009 - Golden Gramophone Award (song "I Don't Love You").
2010 - Golden Gramophone Award (song "Leave Beautifully").
2010 - Diploma " best song 2010" (duet with Valery Meladze "Turn around").
2011 - First Russian Award RU.TV in the nomination "Best duet of the year" (duet with Valery Meladze "Turn around").
2011 - Honored Artist of the Russian Federation - for services in the field of musical art.
2011 - Two Golden Gramophone awards (songs "Real Woman" and "The Best Day").
2011 - Diploma of the "Best Song of 2011" (song "The Best Day").

Tamara Gverdtsiteli - the famous Soviet, Georgian and Russian singer, actress, composer.

Representative of the ancient Georgian noble family Gverdtsiteli. Thanks to her mother, a teacher of Russian language and literature, a native of Odessa, Inna Vladimirovna Kofman (born September 12, 1940), she began to study music early, entered a special music school at the Tbilisi Conservatory. In the early 70s she became a soloist of the children's variety ensemble Mziuri, in which she traveled on tour throughout the former Soviet Union.
At the age of 19, she took second place at the All-Union Festival in Dnepropetrovsk and won international competition"Red carnation" in Sochi. In 1982 she took part in the competition popular music in Dresden, in 1988 she won the Golden Orpheus competition, performed as a guest artist at festivals in Sopot and San Remo. And since 1987, the young singer herself has acted as a member of the jury of music festivals.

In 1989, Gverdtsiteli became the Honored Artist of the Georgian SSR, in 1991 - the People's Artist of Georgia, and in 2004 - the People's Artist of the Russian Federation.

In 1991, Gverdtsiteli was invited by her French agent to Paris, where she met Michel Legrand and Jean Drejac. At the same time, a contract was signed with Michel Legrand and her first concert took place at the Paris Olympia. Legrand, introducing Gverdtsiteli to the audience of three thousand, said: “Paris! Remember this name." And Tamara conquered Paris.
Performs songs in more than ten languages: Georgian, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, English, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Armenian, German, etc.

Georgy Nikolaevich Daneliya - the famous Soviet, Georgian, Russian film director and screenwriter. People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the State Prizes of the USSR and Russia, laureate international festivals.
Creator of the legendary film "Mimino"
Starting with the film "Thirty-three" (1966), the director turns to the genre of satire, he becomes a recognized master of comedy. Danelia's work is distinguished by a truly deep satire, thoughtful grotesque, subtle lyricism and the disclosure of the psychological image of the characters. The ability to create a well-coordinated ensemble of actors from different schools is Danelia's special gift as a director.
Great popularity was brought to George Danelia by such films as "Afonya" (. The leader of the rental in 1975 - 62.2 million viewers (circulation 1573 copies), "I'm walking around Moscow", "Autumn Marathon", "Kin-Dza-Dza!" .
"Kin-Dza-Dza!" had an impact on modern Russian-speaking culture - fictional words from the film entered the spoken language, and some phrases of the characters became stable expressions.

Oleg Valerianovich Basilashvili - Soviet and Russian actor theater and cinema. People's Artist of the USSR (1984).
The popularity of the actor brought roles in the films of Eldar Ryazanov (" Love affair at work”, “Station for two”, “Say a word about the poor hussar”), George Danelia (“Autumn Marathon”).
The end of the 70s - the beginning of the 80s were Oleg Basilashvili's most stellar time in cinema. The first work, after which Basilashvili became truly famous, was the role of Samokhvalov in E. Ryazanov's comedy "Office Romance" (1977). Behind the external decency and impressiveness of his hero lies a cowardly and vile person.
By the way, Basilashvili could play with Ryazanov earlier - in the comedy "The Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath!" (1975). Oleg Valerianovich was supposed to play Ippolit. They even sewed a suit on him and filmed several episodes. And then Basilashvili had a misfortune - his father died. Because of this, he refused to shoot. And Ryazanov was forced to replace Basilashvili with Yuri Yakovlev.
In "Autumn Marathon" (1979), Basilashvili played a man experiencing inner emptiness and existential despair. Danelia's lyrical comedy is full of such sadness and such sympathy for the hero that piercing self-pity floods everyone who finds similarities with the hero in himself and his life. And many find them. "Autumn Marathon" is not about how a weak and weak-willed person is torn between his wife and mistress, as it might seem from the plot. The colorful image of love and family conflicts only emphasizes and sets off the central image of the "suffering egoist". The hero remains a passive object, unable to decide anything definitively. Although the film played wonderful actresses M. Neelova and N. Gundareva, nevertheless, at least 75 percent of the success of the film is Oleg Basilashvili in the title role.

George Balanchine (Georgy Balanchivadze) - was one of the most famous and best choreographers of the 20th century. Balanchine laid the foundation for American ballet and modern ballet art in general, which largely determined the development of the US choreographic theater. co-founder of the famous ballet troupe New York City Ballet.
He returned pure dance to the ballet stage, pushed into the background by story ballets. In his innovative productions, Balanchine used, in particular, modern music of various styles.

Orchestra "Tbilisi Big Bend"

Leading conductor and one of the leaders of the orchestra - Givi Gachechiladze deserves a place of honor among the "100 best orchestrators of the world" and is rightfully included in the "World Musical Encyclopedia".
The performance of "Tbilisi Big Bend" can be seen exclusively in the large concert halls of the largest capitals of the world. Under the direction of maestro Givi Gachechiladze and the artistic director of the orchestra, famous figure of Georgian Culture Gaioza Kandelaki "Tbilisi Big Bend" became the best orchestra in Europe at the Pan-European Festival in Monte Carlo (Monaco).
Today, the orchestra performs at presidential concerts and major world festivals in different corners our planet.
Orchestra "Tbilisi Big Bend" is a concert orchestra of the Municipality of Tbilisi.
For many years, Tbilisi Big Bend has been collaborating with world stars, in particular with two-time Grammy winner Boby Mintzer and the Ladies Blues group.
Today, the orchestra successfully combines the Georgian temperament and Ukrainian bel canto - the soloists of Tbilisi Big-Band are world-famous artists Boris Bedia and Olga Kryukova.

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Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli - an outstanding Soviet and Russian artist and sculptor. President of the Russian Academy of Arts. People's Artist USSR. Hero of Socialist Labor.
In 1980 Z.K. Tsereteli was the main artist Olympic Games in Moscow.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Professor Z.K. Tsereteli is the creator and director of the Moscow Museum contemporary art and the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery.
The only winner in Russia of the International Peace Prize of the United Convention of Cultural Workers (2003).
Personal exhibitions masters took place in Russia, America, France, Turkey and other countries. The artist's works are kept in museum and private collections all over the world.
In mid-February 2010, Zurab Tsereteli was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor. In early June of the same year, the US National Society of Arts awarded him the Gold Medal of Honor. Z. Tsereteli became the first Russian artist to receive such an award.
Since the late 1960s, Z.K. Tsereteli began to work actively in the field of monumental art, today monumental works artists are located in many countries of the world: Russia, Georgia, USA, Spain, France, Portugal, Japan, Great Britain, Syria, Turkey, Uruguay, Israel and Italy. Among them, such as the composition "Good triumphs over evil", installed in front of the UN building in New York (1990), the monuments "Happiness to the children of the whole world" (Brockport, New York, 1979) - a gift to the Special Olympics Children's Fund -disabled and "Science and Education for the World" (Brockport, New York, 1979), the memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill (Moscow, Russia, 1995-1996), the monumental and artistic design of the Moscow Zoo (1996) and Manezhnaya Square in Moscow ( 1997), monument to Peter I, dedicated to the 300th anniversary Russian fleet(Moscow, 1997), and many others. In Spain, in 1995, a monumental composition dedicated to Christopher Columbus (Seville) was installed. In Rome (Italy) in 2002 the artist erected a monument to N.V. Gogol, in 2003 for the city of Bari (Italy) he completed bronze statue Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Leo Antonovich Bokeria — a leading cardiac surgeon in Russia, a well-known scientist and organizer of medical science. Academician of RAS and RAMS, Member of the Presidium of RAMS. Chief Cardiac Surgeon of the Ministry of Health. Director of the A. N. Bakulev National Centers for Artists since 1994. President of the All-Russian public organization "League of Nation's Health". Member of the Public Chamber Russian Federation.
L. A. Bokeria throughout his career actively and fruitfully used the experimental method. A number of operations and methods tested in the experiment were then successfully implemented in the clinic. These are various remote control operations in barooperative, electrical isolation of the left atrium, heart denervation, modeling of cyanotic and pale heart defects, etc. Among the latest methods are cryoablation, fulguration, laser photoablation, now widely used not only in the country, but also abroad.
He is one of the founders of the surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias - newest direction clinical medicine.
He was one of the first in the world to perform simultaneous operations for the correction of congenital, acquired heart defects, or coronary heart disease, combined with life-threatening tachyarrhythmias. He is the initiator of minimally invasive heart surgeries, including the use of a three-dimensional display of the surgical field to improve the safety of the operation itself.
The international recognition of the works of Leo Antonovich Bokeria is his election as a full member of the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons (1991), a member of the European Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons and the International Cardiothoracic Center of Monaco (1992), a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences (1997), a member of the Faculties of a number of regular international conferences in France, Italy, Switzerland, a member of the editorial boards of journals in the USA, Great Britain. Leo Antonovich Bokeria repeatedly traveled abroad to perform demonstrative operations and performed the first successful operations for tachyarrhythmias in Italy and Poland. Of particular note is the election of L. A. Bokeria in 1998 as an Honorary Member of the American College of Surgeons - the highest title in the surgical hierarchy. Since 2003, Leo Antonovich has been a member of the Presidium (Consul) of the European Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons.

honorary titles and awards
1976 - Laureate of the Lenin Prize (together with V. I. Burakovsky and V. A. Bukharin) - for the development and implementation of hyperbaric oxygenation in clinical practice.
1986 - Laureate of the State Prize - for the development and introduction into clinical practice of new methods of electrophysiological diagnostic methods and operations for ventricular overexcitation syndromes, supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias and the development of a new direction - surgical arrhythmology.
1994 - Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation.
1999 - Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III degree.
1997, 1999, 2002 - the title of "Person of the Year", Russian Biographical Institute.
2000 - the title "Person of the Decade" in the nomination "Medicine", Russian Biographical Institute.
2001 - Order of the Russian Orthodox Church Reverend Sergius Radonezh II degree.
2002 - the title of "Man-Legend" of the All-Russian Prize of the Government, the Union of Industrialists and the "Third Millennium" Foundation, "Russian National Olympus".
2002 - State Prize in the field of science and technology - for the development of the main provisions of the problem of surgical treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta and aortic arch.
2003 - International Prize"Golden Hippocrates" (to the best cardiac surgeons in the world)
2003 - the title of "Person of the Year-2003" in the nomination "Medicine" for an outstanding contribution to world cardiac surgery and strengthening Russian health care, Russian Biographical Institute.
2003 - Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology - for the development and implementation of a transmyocardial method for the treatment of inoperable patients.
2004 - award badge-order "Maecenas" for an outstanding contribution to the revival and prosperity of the World, for the greatness of the soul, for selfless generosity. Awarded Charitable Foundation"Patrons of the Century".

2004 - Golden badge of honor " Public acceptance» for his great personal contribution to the development of domestic medicine, for performing unique cardiac surgeries using the latest medical technologies that saved the lives of hundreds of children and newborns, for many years of fruitful scientific, practical, pedagogical and educational activities, active citizenship. Awarded National Fund"Public Recognition", the National Civil Committee for Interaction with Law Enforcement, Legislative and Judicial Bodies, an independent organization "Civil Society".

2004 - Triumph Award.

2004 - the title of "Person of the Year 2004" (Russian Biographical Institute).

2004 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree

2004 - Order "For Honor, Valor, Creation, Mercy". Award Profession-life.

2005 - Award "Best Books and Publishing Houses of the Year", nomination "Science", for the publication of the book "Health of the Nation" (Atlas).

2005 - the title of "Person of the Year - 2005" (Russian Biographical Institute).

Maria, Princess Eristavi - was a prominent Georgian aristocrat, fashion icon, and one of the earliest models of Coco Chanel.
She held a respectable position in the Georgian high society, as well as the Russian imperial court.
The princess was the maid of honor of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Nicholas II, struck by her beauty, once remarked to a young maid of honor: “It’s a sin, princess, to be so beautiful!”

Irakli Moiseevich Toidze – Georgian Soviet painter and chart. Laureate of four Stalin Prizes (1941, 1948, 1949, 1951).
The author of the world-famous poster "Motherland is calling"
Motherland is one of the widespread images used by Soviet propaganda during the Great Patriotic War.
The image owes its origin to the poster of Irakli Toidze “The Motherland Calls!”.
The most famous and largest monumental incarnations of the image were: the statue "Motherland is calling!" on Mamaev Kurgan in Volgograd, the statue of "Motherland" on the banks of the Dnieper in Kyiv, the statue of "Mother Armenia" in Yerevan, "Kartlis Deda" in Tbilisi. Also, a small statue of the "Motherland" is installed at the Piskaryovskoye memorial cemetery in St. Petersburg.

The most famous marriage swindlers in Europe were representatives of the Georgian Mdivani family.
Marrying Mdivanis
There were five of them, three brothers and two sisters Mdivani; David, Sergey, Alexey, Nina and Rusudan. Children of Major-General Zakhary Aslanovich Mdivani (1867-1933), who emigrated from Georgia through Constantinople to Paris in 1923, who called himself a Georgian prince, but was never approved in princely dignity. Their mother was Elizaveta Viktorovna Sabalevska, half Georgian , half polka.
All three sons of Zakharia Mdivani were unusually charming and married the most prestigious American brides. The Mdivani brothers, known in the Old and New Worlds as “Marrying Mdivanis”, presented themselves as Georgian princes and became famous for their multiple marriages and divorces with the daughters and granddaughters of American multimillionaires and Hollywood “movie divas”.
David Mdivani (1902-1984), born in Batumi, the eldest of the brothers. He married Hollywood dancer and film star Mae Murray, who was 20 years older than him. The marriage of Mdivani and Morray took place in 1926, it was her fourth marriage. They had a son, Koran David, but they hid the fact of his birth for two years so as not to spoil Murray's film career. However, the birth of a son did not prevent David from scandalously divorcing his wife (1933) after her bankruptcy.
After the divorce, David became close to a rather famous French actress Arletty, and in 1944 married a wealthy American, Virginia Sinclair, owner of Sinclair Oil, with whom he had another son.

Sergei (Serge) Mdivani (1903-1936) was born in Batumi. In 1927, he married Hollywood movie star Pola Negri (Pola Negri, 1894-1987), who was 6 years older than him, and left her as soon as she lost all her savings as a result of the collapse of the American stock market (1929), which marked the beginning of the "Great depression” (officially divorced in 1931). His second marriage is to Mary MacCormick, opera singer(soprano) from the Chicago Civic Opera, continued from 1931 to 1933. In Feb. 1936 married the ex-wife of his late brother Alexei, and a month later, on March 15, he died under the hooves of his own horse while playing polo in Florida.

Alexei (Alexis) Mdivani (1908-1935), was born in Batumi. His first marriage was to a wealthy American, Louise Astor Van Alen, and his second to Barbara Hutton, the heiress of the two hundred million fortune of the Woolwort family. He died in a car accident on August 11, 1935 in Spain.

Nina Mdivani (1900-1987), born in Tiflis. She married for the first time in 1925, 48-year-old Stanford and Chicago University professor Charles Haberich and divorced him on May 19, 1936. And on August 18 of the same year she married Denis Conan Doyle, son of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. After his death in 1955, Nina remarries her husband's secretary, Anthony Harwood.

Rusudan Mdivani (1906-1938), sculptor, married Spanish artist José Maria Sert in 1928.

He tells about the famous Georgians in Russia and the most interesting facts of their biography.

Zurab Tsereteli

The famous 82-year-old Russian sculptor, painter and teacher. His sculptures adorn many countries and cities of the world. He is the president of the Russian Academy of Arts, as well as a laureate of various awards and titles. Notable works- a monument to Peter the Great, John Paul II, the monuments "Friendship forever" and "Good conquers Evil".

© photo: Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov

The author of more than five thousand works of painting, graphics, sculpture and monumental and decorative art grew up in Tbilisi, in a family where the spirit of art soared. He studied in France, where he spoke with Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. Since the late 1960s and still actively working in the field of monumental art.

© Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili

Tsereteli is the author of the largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world (80 meters), which may be placed in St. Petersburg. The master plans to build a museum of his own name in China and create a monument to the singer Zhanna Friske. Despite Tsereteli's outstanding merits, the sculptor is criticized for his gigantomania and is accused of "monopolizing" monumental projects in Moscow.

An interesting fact - Tsereteli appears as a tireless cheerful artist-sculptor Zviad Tsurindeli in the novel by writer Sergei Sokolkin "Russian Chock".

Nikolai Tsiskaridze

Nikolai Tsiskaridze is undoubtedly one of the most famous and talented ballet dancers of our time. A native of Tbilisi, from childhood he was a child prodigy, and long legs and insane love for ballet led him to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, where he dreamed of serving from an early age.

photo: courtesy of Nikolay Tsiskaridze

Today Tsiskaridze is a two-time laureate of the State Prize of Russia, three times a laureate of the theater award " golden mask", a member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Culture and Art, as well as the rector of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg.

© photo: Sputnik / Ramil Sitdikov

Ballet dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze in a scene from the ballet " Queen of Spades directed by Roland Petit

Nikolai is a fan of the work of Leonid Parfyonov, Vitaly Wolf and Edward Radzinsky. His favorite fairy tale is Andersen's "The Little Mermaid". The forty-two-year-old artist is famous for his complex character and boundless willpower, and also avoids talking about his personal life and says that he is in no hurry with marriage.

A cult film director, actor, screenwriter, publicist, author of such popularly beloved films on which entire generations have grown up: these are "I'm walking around Moscow", "Don't Cry!", "Afonya", "Mimino", "Autumn Marathon", "Passport" , "Kin-Dza-Dza!" and many others. others

© photo: Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov

George spent his childhood in Moscow, where the family moved from Tbilisi in 1931. Here he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Architecture in 1954, and two years later he entered the Higher Director's Courses at the Mosfilm film studio. Danelia is the cousin of the Georgian actress Sofiko Chiaureli, whom she shot only once - in the film Don't Cry. Almost half of Danelia's films were composed by the Georgian composer Giya Kancheli, who also composed a composition for string orchestra "Little Daneliada" as a gift to the director.

Archive

Frunzik Mkrtchyan and Vakhtang Kikabidze at the Rossiya Hotel in Moscow during the filming of the film Mimino.

In the films of Danelia, among the actors involved in the episodes, there is always a certain Rene Hobua, who is not in any of the films. In reality, Rene Hobua is a Georgian builder who once met Danelia and Rezo Gabriadze. Unfortunately, in recent years, Georgiy Danelia has been suffering from emphysema and therefore hardly leaves the house.

Leo Bokeria

Leading Russian cardiac surgeon and renowned scientist. For outstanding achievements in medicine, he repeatedly became a man and a legend of the year. Bokeria throughout his career actively and fruitfully used the experimental method. He was one of the first in the world to perform simultaneous operations to correct congenital and acquired heart defects.

© photo: Sputnik / Sergey Subbotin

A special merit of Leo Antonovich is the performance of the first operations in the USSR on fully implantable artificial heart ventricles. Bokeria is the initiator and pioneer of minimally invasive heart surgery, including the use of a three-dimensional display of the surgical field to increase the safety of the operation itself. Doctor from God - Leo Bokeria - 76 years old.

Outstanding Opera singer(lyric-dramatic tenor) and teacher. He played football since childhood: at the age of 16 he joined Dynamo Sukhumi, then he became the captain of the Georgian national team at the age of 20, and two years later he joined the main team of Dynamo Tbilisi. But serious injuries led to the end of his sports career.

Sputnik / Vadim Shekun

In 1965-1974 Zurab Sotkilava was a soloist of the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theater named after Z. Paliashvili. Trained at Milan's La Scala Theatre. AT Bolshoi Theater in Moscow he made his debut as Jose in 1973 (Georges Bizet's Carmen), and in 1974 he joined the theatre's opera troupe. He taught at the Moscow Conservatory.

In July 2015, information about the oncological diagnosis of the opera singer spread in the media. Soon Sotkilava told reporters that he had beaten cancer after a successful course of chemotherapy. His first concert after recovery took place on October 25, 2015 in Sergiev Posad near Moscow.

Oleg Basilashvili

His film heroes - Samokhvalov, Buzykin, Count Merzlyaev, pianist Ryabinin, Woland - are the most charming and beloved characters of Soviet cinema. Basilashvili, who has appeared in more than 75 films, is known for his oppositional views.

© photo: Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov

Oleg Basilashvili (Prince K.) during the play "Uncle's Dream" based on F.M. Dostoevsky staged by the artistic director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G.A. Tovstonogov (BDT) Timur Chkheidze.

Oleg Basilashvili could not get along with his wife, actress Tatyana Doronina, but he is happy with journalist Galina Mshanskaya, with whom the artist has been together for more than 50 years. The couple raised two daughters who became journalists like their mother. But longer than his wife, Oleg Basilashvili remains faithful only to the Bolshoi Drama Theater.

During the Soviet era, Oleg toured the world a lot. Once, on tour in Japan, Basilashvili received a huge fee by the standards of a Soviet person, which he spent all on six pairs of shoes for his wife.

Sergei Chonishvili

Russian theater and film actor, official voice of the STS channel since 1998. At the age of 16 he came from Tula to Moscow, where he graduated from the Shchukin School. He played in Lenkom and the Oleg Tabakov Theater, starred in more than 60 films.

Grigory Chkhartishvili

Grigory Chkhartishvili - aka Boris Akunin, eminent writer, publicist, orientalist, translator and winner of numerous professional awards. Born in 1956 in Zestafoni (Imereti region), in the family of artillery officer Shalva Chkhartishvili and Russian language and literature teacher Berta Brazinskaya. In 1958 the family moved to Moscow.

© Sputnik / Levan Avlabreli

In 1979, Grigory Chkhartishvili graduated from the historical and philological department of the Institute of Asian Countries, Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, having received a diploma in Japanese history. Translated Japanese, American and English literature. And in 1998 he began to write fiction under the pseudonym Boris Akunin. Chkhartishvili-Akunin became popular in the early 2000s thanks to a series of detective novels about Erast Fandorin ("Azazel", "Turkish Gambit", "Death of Achilles", "State Councilor", " Special Assignments"," Leviathan "," Coronation "). The works of the Fandorin series have been translated into more than 30 languages ​​and have been repeatedly filmed.

The writer is married. The first wife is a Japanese woman, with whom Akunin lived for several years. The second wife, Erika Ernestovna, is a proofreader, translator and writer's agent. No kids. Since 2014 Grigory has been working and living in France, Brittany region. In October 2016, he came to his historical homeland, Georgia, where he met with Georgian readers and said that he was looking for a plot in the country for a new book about Fandorin in Georgia.

Valery and Konstantin Meladze

Stars of modern Russian stage and real engines of show business. Natives of Batumi (Adjar Autonomous Republic), they started playing music in their youth. Now Valery is a successful pop singer, Kontantin is one of the best composers in the country. Not so long ago, both brothers left their first families and married their wards from the group " VIA Gra": Valery - on Albina Dzhanabaeva, and Konstantin - on Vera Brezhneva.

© photo: Sputnik / Nina Zotina

Otar Kushanashvili

The scandalous Russian music journalist and TV presenter is from Kutaisi (Imereti region). His parents had nine children. Kushanashvili decided to become a journalist while still in his native city, starting to publish in the newspaper Kutaisskaya Pravda. Later he entered the Faculty of Journalism of Tbilisi State University, from where, according to him, he was expelled.

© photo: Sputnik / Ekaterina Chesnokova

And soon Otar left for Moscow, where he first worked as a night watchman at a school and washed the floors at the station. Then he sent a resume to 35 editors, but received only one offer and in early 1993 he became a correspondent for the newspaper " A New Look", created by Evgeny Dodolev, and then, on the recommendation of the latter, switched to television under the tutelage of Ivan Demidov.

Soon Otar Kushanashvili makes interviews with figures of Russian show business and becomes a prominent figure in the Moscow beau monde. He was seen in numerous scandals: for example, after the story of 2002 on Channel One, when during the broadcast of Eurovision Kushanashvili swore obscenely in live in the program of Andrei Malakhov, was for a long time deprived of the opportunity to appear on television.

Tamara Gverdtsiteli

Former soloist legendary VIA"Mziuri", in the present - one of the most gifted Georgian singers on the Russian stage. Tamara Mikhailovna's father is from the ancient Georgian noble family of Gverdtsiteli, her mother is Jewish, the granddaughter of an Odessa rabbi. Gverdtsiteli performed with Michel Legrand, who, introducing the singer to the audience of three thousand, said: "Paris! Remember this name." And Tamara conquered Paris.

She performs songs in more than ten languages: Georgian, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, English, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Armenian, German, etc. Tamara Mikhailovna's talent is unlimited - the artist sings in operas and musicals, acts in films, and also participates in various musical and entertainment projects on television.

Rezo Gigineishvili

Popular Russian film director, producer and screenwriter of Georgian origin. Born in 1982 in Tbilisi in the family of musician Irina Tsikoridze and doctor David Gigineishvili, in Soviet time who was in charge of one of the health resorts of Borjomi. In 1991 he moved to Moscow, where he soon began working on television.

© photo: Sputnik / Evgenia Novozhenina

He graduated from the directing department of VGIK (course of Marlen Khutsiev), was the second director in the film "9th Company" by Fyodor Bondarchuk. Gigineishvili's most sensational films are "Heat", 2 Love with an Accent", "Without Men" and the television series "The Last of the Magikyans". Known for his high-profile marriages with singer Anastasia Kochetkova and Nikita Mikhalkov's daughter, actress Nadezhda Mikhalkova.

Soso Pavliashvili

One of the most charismatic Georgians and singers of Russian show business. Father Ramin Iosifovich Pavliashvili - architect, mother - Aza Alexandrovna Pavliashvili (nee - Kustova) - housewife. He joined the stage when he served in the army. And after the service, at the age of 24, he sang.

Pavliashvili was a member of the Iveria ensemble. In 1988, in Calgary, during the Winter Olympics, Soso played the violin in the Iveria ensemble, and once, in front of an audience of 50,000 in the city center, he sang Suliko, the performance of which shocked the audience. In 1989, he performed at a competition in Jurmala, where he received the Grand Prix.

Soso is famous for being more loving: the first wife of the singer was Nino Uchaneishvili, who gave birth to his son Levan. After his first marriage, Soso lived for a long time with famous singer Irina Ponarovskaya, but the couple never legalized the relationship. Since 1997, the Georgian singer has been married to the former backing vocalist of the Mironi group, Irina Patlakh, with whom Pavliashvili has two daughters, Lisa and Sandra.

Evgeny Papunaishvili

Famous Russian dancer and choreographer, a native Muscovite. A few years ago, Papunaishvili opened his own "Evgeny Papunaishvili Dance School". Now he is one of the most expensive choreographers and dance teachers in Russia.

The choreographer became more famous and recognizable after his participation and repeated victories in the project "Dancing with the Stars", where Evgeny danced with Natasha Koroleva, Irina Saltykova, Yulia Savicheva, Ksenia Sobchak, Albina Dzhanabaeva, Alena Vodonaeva, Tatyana Bulanova, Gluk'oZoy and others .

The Georgian heartthrob was credited with many novels, with almost every one of his star partners. But the choreographer himself confirms only one romance - with Ksenia Sobchak. But the romance ended and today the dancer's personal life is again under the gun of cameras. The man, as before, is single, rich and famous.

Grigory Leps (Lepsveridze)

Sochi Georgian and a real phenomenon in the Russian stage recent years. At school he was a loser, but he was seriously involved in football and music. In the early 1990s, Leps performed romances in a restaurant in a Sochi hotel, and spent his fees on casinos, vending machines, booze, and women. At the age of 30, he went to Moscow for fame, and he did it.

© photo: Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

In 1995, the debut album "God bless you" was released, the song from which "Natalie" quickly gained popularity. Already in 1998, Grigory received an invitation from Alla Pugacheva to sing at the "Olympic" in "Christmas Meetings". Leps is known for a special, "growling" timbre of voice. He defines his style as " pop song with rock elements.

Leps is a businessman, restaurateur, produces a line of glasses "Leps Optika". In 2013, the US Treasury Department accused Leps of involvement in the "post-Soviet mafia" and put him on the "black list". According to US officials, in the criminal environment, Leps had the nickname "Grisha", officially lived in Thailand and transports mafia money. The musician reacted to this with irony and even called the new record "Gangster No. 1". He was married twice and has four children.

One of the most charming, fashionable and talented singers of Georgian origin in Russia. Rapidly breaking into Russian stage from Tbilisi as a new soloist of "A" Studio "Keti Topuria immediately attracted attention not only with an incredibly beautiful voice, but also with an exotic appearance. Today, thirty-year-old Keti is not only a successful singer, but also a promising fashion designer for adults and children, and also happy mother of daughter Olivia, who was born to Keti married to businessman Lev Geykhman.

© photo: Sputnik / Denis Aslanov

Many famous Georgian singers have been and remain popular in our country. They successfully perform at Russian stage. Among them are operatic romances and pop artists, musical artists and representatives of pop culture.

Opera

Georgian opera performers have voices that are unique in strength and beauty of timbres. Some of them managed, thanks to their talent, to become famous all over the world. They sang and sing best scenes Europe. They obeyed "La Scala", "Metropolitan Opera", "Covent Garden" and other world venues.

Georgian opera singers (list):

• Zurab Sotkilava.
• Paata Burchuladze.
• Makvala Kasrashvili.
• Tamar Iano.
• Gvazava Eteri.
• Natela Nicoli.
• Lado Ataneli.
• Petre Amiranishvili.
• Nino Surguladze.
• Eteri Chkonia.
• Iver Tamar.
• Tsisana Tatishvili.
• Nino Machaidze.
• Medea Amiranishvili.

And others.

Contemporary performers

Artists from Georgia successfully perform not only opera arias, but also jazz, rock, pop music. Many of them became famous thanks to the TV projects "Voice", "Star Factory", "Minute of Glory".

Georgian contemporary singers (list):

• Gela Guralia.
• Sofia Nizharadze.
• Diana Gurtskaya.
• Katie Topuria.
• Dato.
• Valeriy Meladze.
• Katie Melua.
• Anri Jokhadze.
• Irakli Pirtskhalava.
• Tamta.
• David Khujadze.
• Datuna Mgeladze.
• Soso Pavliashvili.
• Oto Nemsadze.
• Nina Sublatti.
• Nodiko Tatishvili.
• Sopho Khalvashi.
• Mariko Ebralidze.
• Sophie Willy.

And others.

Zurab Sotkilava

The world famous opera singer was born in Sukhumi in 1937. From childhood, the artist played football and at the age of 16 he joined the Georgian Dynamo. At the age of 22, due to severe injuries, he was forced to end his sports career. In 1960, Zurab Lavrentievich graduated from the Polytechnic Institute. Five years later - the Tbilisi Conservatory, and in 1972 - postgraduate studies. For two years he was an intern at the La Scala Theatre.

He began his career as a singer at the Opera and Ballet Theater named after Z. Paliashvili in Georgia. In 1974 he moved to Moscow and was accepted into the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater.

Z. Sotkilava in 1979 was awarded the title

Zurab Lavrentievich sang the parts of the main characters in the following operas:

• "Aida".
• "Nabucco".
• "Troubadour".
• "Country Honor"
• "Masquerade ball".
• "Yearning".
• "Boris Godunov".
• "Iolanta".

And others.

Zurab Lavrentievich has been actively teaching since 1976. Since 1987 he has been a professor. Many young Georgian opera singers, as well as vocalists from other countries, study with him.

Eteri Beriashvili

Many Georgian singers brightly manifest themselves on Russian television. They take part in various competitive projects. One of the artists who was remembered by the Russian public, thanks to her participation in the show "Voice" - Eteri Beriashvili. The artist was born in a small mountainous Georgian town. Started singing at early childhood. First, Eteri, at the insistence of her parents, graduated from the Sechenov Medical Academy. Immediately after that, she entered the Moscow School of Variety and Jazz Art in the vocal department. While still a student, she became a student of the Stairway to Heaven competition, where she was noticed and invited to join the Cool & Jazzy group. Then the artist created her own team - A "Cappella ExpreSSS.

Eteri is one of the leading jazz performers.

Tamara Gverdtsiteli

Some Georgian pop singers and singers who became popular with our listeners back in Soviet era remain a favorite to this day. These artists include Tamara Gverdtsiteli. The singer was born in Tbilisi in 1962. Tamara comes from an ancient noble family. T. Gverdtsiteli is not only a singer, but also an actress, composer and pianist. She began to study music thanks to her mother, an Odessa Jewess. In the 70s. Tamara became the soloist of the children's vocal ensemble"Mziuri". T. Gverdtsiteli graduated from the conservatory in two directions - composition and piano. Then she graduated College of Music in vocal class. In 1991, she signed a contract with M. Legrand and at the same time her first concert took place in Paris.

Today Tamara performs on the stage and sings in the opera, acts in films, plays in musicals, tours with solo concerts and takes part in dramatic productions. The artist performs songs in different languages.

In 2004 she was awarded the title of "People's Artist of Russia".

Sofia Nizharadze

Georgian singers often perform parts in our Russian musical productions. One of the most famous artists of this genre - She was born in Tbilisi in 1986. Started singing from three years. At the age of 7 she voiced the film. She graduated from music school in piano. Sofia is a graduate of GITIS, the faculty of musical theater artists. She gained fame by singing the part of the main character in the Russian version French musical"Romeo and Juliet".

In 2005, the singer took part in the New Wave contest. In 2010, she represented her native country at Eurovision.

In addition to the musical "Romeo and Juliet", she performed roles in the following musical productions:

• "Keto and Kote".
• "Wedding of jays".
• "Melodies of the Verian quarter".
• Hello, Dolly.