Vincenzo Bellini

“Garanca is the best reason for cherishing this fine recording. There isn't a lyric mezzo-soprano who can currently hold a candle to the Latvian in this repertoire.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2009 ****

“The performance is dominated by Elina Garanca's Romeo; she easily suggests both the swaggering duellist and the lovelorn youth. There are times when her rich, velvety tones sound almost like a soprano, and in the duets with Anna Netrebko's Juliet, the two voices seem naturally to complement each other. The tenor who sings Tebaldo needs to be of equal strength to balance the drama, and Joseph Calleja rises to the challenge... The duet in Act 2, when Tebaldo and Romeo are about to fight but then learn of Juliet's death, find Garanca and Calleja striking sparks off each other; despite the beauty of the final tomb-scene duet, I found this confrontation the highlight of the proceedings.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2009

“Giulietta suits Netrebko’s plangent manner and less than dazzling coloratura technique better than the more florid Bellini and Donizetti roles, and she is more feminine and touching than the icily brilliant Edita Gruberova or the brittle, virtuosic Beverly Sills. Garanca’s warm, lustrous mezzo makes her ideal casting for Romeo, and the same goes for the supporting roles...A big success.” Sunday Times, 1st March 2009 ****

“How Rossini would have fallen for the Latvian Elina Garanca! Her voice, with its creamy mezzo middle and purposeful drop into the chest register suggests a perfect Rosina; part passionate young woman but mostly knowing minx. …no recent artist, including the magnificent Marilyn Horne, has recorded a more affecting rendition of Tancredi's recitative and cavatina, 'O patria... Di tanti paliti': every word articulated, every musical phrase properly shaped and a seemingly effortless legato. This is a deeply satisfying CD from a great artist in the making.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2009 *****

“A refreshingly unhackneyed selection of bel canto arises from a star mezzo. The gentle songs from Adelson e Salvini and Dom Sébastien make a nice contrast with the fireworks of "Di tanti palpiti" from Tancredi. Roberto Abbado and the Bologna orchestra provide the always sympathetic accompaniment... What of that long bel canto line? It is never allowed to overwhelm the dramatic situation of each scene but Garanca seems to find no difficulty in any of this music.” Gramophone Magazine, June 2009

“Unjustly denied first prize at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2001, the glamorous Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca has gone on to prove the judges wrong by carving a front-ranking international career. This well-programmed recital of less familiar material from operas by Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini shows off her superb technique, with its fluent coloratura and beautiful upper register. The melancholy Romanza from Bellini's early Adelson e Salvini and the lilting "Di tanti palpiti" from Rossini's Tancredi both show her at her impressive best.” The Telegraph, 12th February 2009