The fourth concert of the 2025-26 season for the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series, An Afternoon of Soaring Songs, will be at 4 p.m. take Sunday, March 1, at St. Mark’s in the Valley Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos.
The concert will feature the rising tenor Giorgi Guliashvili and celebrated collaborative pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson in a program of songs and arias by Liszt, Donizetti, Tosti, Leoncavallo, and Verdi and Puccini.
“It is part of the mission of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series to showcase up and coming musicians such as the wonderful tenor Giorgi Guliashvili,” said Robert Cassidy, artistic director.
“He is on the cusp of a major international career, and we are so fortunate to welcome him today with the elegant pianist, Carrie-Ann Matheson, who is currently artistic director of the Merola Program at the San Francisco Opera Center,” Cassidy said
“As a bonus, they are both alumnae of the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara.” he said.
After the performance, there will be a Q&A session with the artists moderated by SYVConcerts.
Ticket pricing: general admission seats, $25; patron seats; $45; students receive complimentary tickets. For tickets, visit here.
For more, visit SYVCONCERTS.ORG.
Guliashvili is currently a member of the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Artists Programme.
He began his vocal studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatory, where he performed the roles of Tamino Die Zauberflöte and Alfredo La Traviata. He continued his training at the Accademia del Teatro di San Carlo in Naples under the guidance of the renowned soprano Mariella Devia.
Guliashvili completed postgraduate studies in opera at Yale University and is an alumnus of the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program.
He has received recognition in international competitions, including winning first prize at the Gerda Lissner Vocal Competition.
Matheson has a multi-faceted international career as pianist, conductor and educator, and since January 2021, is artistic director of the San Francisco Opera Center and the Merola Opera Program.
A native of Canada, Matheson began her career at the Metropolitan Opera, where she was a tenured member of the music staff, serving as assistant conductor, prompter, pianist, and vocal coach.
The expansion of her European performing career began in 2014 when Maestro Fabio Luisi invited her to join the coaching and conducting staff at Opernhaus Zürich.
The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series is fiscally sponsored by the Santa
Barbara Foundation.