Hibla Levarsovna Gerzmava, an Abkhazian-Russian operatic soprano, was born on January 6, 1970. She began her career as a soloist at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre in Moscow in 1995. In 2008, Gerzmava made her debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin. Her voice led to significant roles such as Lucia at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre in 2009. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in September–October 2010 in The Tales of Hoffmann, followed by a return engagement in November–December 2011 for Franco Zeffirelli's production of La bohème. Gerzmava performed at the closing ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Among her awards are the Golden Orpheus Opera Festival's Best Singer Award in 2001, the Golden Mask for Best Female Role in 2010, and being named Merited Artist of the Russian Federation by President Vladimir Putin in 2006.
