Nani Bregvadze is a notable Georgian singer and actress regarded for
her stage presence and nuanced renditions of Georgian and Russian
songs.
She was born Nani Georgievna Bregvadze in 1938, in Tbilisi, Georgia,
Soviet Union. Her father, Georgi Efremovich Bregvadze, was an engineer
turned actor. Her mother, Olga Aleksandrovna Mikeladze, was an amateur
pianist, coming from Georgian nobility. Young Nani Bragvadze was one of
five sisters brought up in a highly intellectual environment of her
family. From her noble parents, Bregvadze inherited a good disposition,
and learned to acknowledge good in all people.
Young Nani Bregvadze was fond of music. She studied singing with her
aunt and mother, then attended a school of music in Tbilisi. She made
her stage debut at the 1957 World Festival of Youth and Students in
Moscow. There she was noticed by
Leonid Utyosov, who recommended her to
continue singing professionally. From 1958 - 1963 she studied singing
and piano at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, graduating in 1963 as a
concert pianist and singer. At first she was torn between two
professions, one as a concert pianist and another as a singer, but her
artistic career was decided by impresario
Bruno Coquatrix, who invited Bregvadze
to Paris as a singer.
During the mid-1960s she was touring as a singer with the Moscow Music
Hall, making concert appearances in Moscow, and in Olympia, in Paris,
France. From 1965 - 1980 she toured all over the world as a member of
the "Orera" vocal ensemble based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Since 1980 she
has been touring with her solo performances. Bregvadze amassed a
repertoire of several hundred songs, covering a wide range of styles
from a variety of cultures. She has been singing in several languages,
making most success with her impeccable interpretations of Georgian
traditional folk songs as well as intimate Russian romance classics.
In recognition of her art, Nani Bregvadze was designated People's Actor
of the USSR, People's Actor of Georgia, and was awarded the State Prize
of Georgia for her contribution to culture. Her records sold millions
of copies worldwide. She is Honorable Citizen of Tbilisi, Georgia, and
the city of Benalmadena, Spain. Outside of her acting profession,
Bregvadze is a devoted follower of yoga and organic lifestyle, and an
avid reader of classical literature.
Nani Bregvadze has been regarded for her finesse in communication to
cross-cultural audiences. Her sincere, intimate delivery and a rare
ability to reveal the hidden beauty of lyrics and melodies has been
appealing to large international audiences. She shares her time between
her two homes, one in Tbilisi, Georgia, and one in Moscow, Russia.
