Nino Machaidze steps in for ill artist to rescue Norwegian opera show

Georgia’s internationally celebrated singer Nino Machaidze turned out a saviour of a new show at Norway’s Bergen National Opera when she stepped from audience to stage to perform in extraordinary circumstances on Monday.

Machaidze was in Bergen to watch her spouse Guido Loconsolo perform in one of the principal roles of the classical opera Il turco in Italia at the venue. She arrived in the coastal city from a concert in Barcelona, Spain where she performed with famous tenor Placido Domingo.

The four-show premiere program at the Bergen opera cast Spanish soprano Sylvia Schwartz in the first performance on Saturday.

Machaidze's spouse Guido Loconsolo (C) was billed to perform with Sylvia Schwartz (L) in the cast. Photo: Bergen National Opera.

However the venue’s hosts faced an emergency as the acclaimed singer had to pull out of the subsequent show scheduled for Monday after falling ill.

Fortunately for the National Opera Machaidze came to their rescue, agreeing to replace Schwartz "in the demanding role of Fiorilla", said a release by the venue.

The Georgian soprano has performed the role for shows in Turin, Italy as well as Munich, Germany and Barcelona, Spain.

Machaidze joined the cast of the show, including her spouse, for the occasion described by the venue as "a dream”.

Machaidze stepped in to perform the role of Fiorilla in the show on Monday. Photo: Nino Machaidze/Facebook.

Sometimes it's more operatic drama behind the scenes than on stage”, said a release by the National Opera following the performance.

Machaidze received her vocal training in Tbilisi and performed at the city’s Opera and Ballet State Theatre before joining the Opera Academy of the prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Italy at age 17.

Her critically acclaimed debut at the 2008 Salzburg Festival served as the launchpad for the Georgian soprano’s international career, with Machaidze now recognised among the best contemporary performers.

She has performed at the most prestigious worldwide opera stages including the Vienna State Opera, the Staatsoper Berlin, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera New York.