Opera singer Anita Rachvelishvili honoured with German Record Critics' Award

Mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili has been formally recognised for her debut album with the German Record Critics Award, receiving the prize at the Dutch National Opera over the weekend.

The singer accepted the honour from Die Welt music and dance critic Manuel Brug on the stage of the Amsterdam venue, where she is involved in a double bill of Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci.

The award singles out Rachvelishvili's debut album, released last year with Sony Classical and featuring recordings of her performances of works by Jules Massenet, Camille Saint-Saëns and Georgian composer Dimitri Arakishvili.

A moving stage reflection about truth, #verisomo and opera on stage: #RobertCarsen #PagCav @DutchNatOpera with a wunderful cast: @operabrandon #romanburdenko @ailynperezsop @BrianJagde and the one and only @AnitaRachveli - who got after @Musikkritiker price from me pic.twitter.com/ffvOneifyv

— Manuel Brug (@ManuelBrug) September 16, 2019

The recording was revealed among 2018 winners of the German critics in October, with jury member Michael Stegemann noting “This recording is more than a promise - it is a confirmation of great art” on behalf of the judges.

The mezzo has recently been on the receiving end of plaudits by critics around the world, with OperaWire naming her in their top 10 of performances at the Metropolitan Opera in May and critic Mauricio Villa calling her "Carmen of the moment" for her Paris Opera appearance in April.

The German Record Critics Award is bestowed for "outstanding productions" by performers annually since 1963. It was established  by publisher Richard Kaselowsky with the aim of setting the "most rigorous standards for supreme achievement and quality" in the field of music recording.

The association for the award involves 160 members who assess recorded music and audio books for monthly and annual prizes.