Monday, November 12, 2012

Falling in Love....Again! Being "Romantique" with Elina Garanča

FALLING IN LOVE....AGAIN! BEING "ROMANTIQUE" WITH ELINA GARANČA -- This lady from Latvia is conquering the classical music world aria by aria, recital by recital, opera by opera. The clarity, the beauty, the depth of her voice is mesmerizing.  Clean, modern, a new voice for a new generation. Since entering the Latvian Academy of Music in 1996, mezzo-soprano Elina Garanča has entranced music lovers with her distinctive voice -- but it was an appearance in 2003 at the Salzburg Festival singing the part of Annio in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito that led to major engagements on international stages in Vienna, Paris and New York where The New York Times music critic Bernard Holland was so moved to write "Ms. Garanča is the real thing."  And we at Studio of Style have never been so taken with a mezzo-soprano as she -- her porcelain skin glows like the lingering effects of the White Nights of the Baltic midsummer. Writer Jeremy Nicholas of Grammophone magazine wrote "What sets her apart, however, is the unteachable ability to send shivers down the spine and make grown men salivate." Well, well.  With 10 CDs under her beautiful belt, we suggest that you neophytes to the world of opera -- and even you longtime veterans -- just simply plunge yourself into Garanča's newest CD "Romantique" -- with its songs of love and despair -- and there's no better way to do it than viewing the official video from Deutsche Grammophon shown below, where she sings that luscious aria from Camille Saint-Saen's Samson et Dalila "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix" (my heart opens itself to your voice).  As you watch this video, just imagine yourself on a balmy midsummer night on the Baltic, and from among the stone monoliths Elina Garanča appears in the white light,  lulling you into a romantic reverie with her creamy, pure voice.  Aaaaah, how romantique is that?
http://www.elinagaranca.com
Images courtesy Elina Garanča & Deutsche Grammophon