Elina Garanca: Meditation

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ADAM / ALLEGRI / CACCINI / GOUNOD / MOZART / VASKS / etc
Elina Garanca: Meditation
Elina Garanca (mezzo-soprano) / Latvian Radio Choir, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, Karel Mark Chichon

[ Deutsche Grammophon / CD ]

Release Date: Wednesday 24 September 2014

Elīna presents a beautiful selection of spiritual music dedicated to the eternal search and longing for inner peace. It's perhaps one of her most personal albums ever which connects the listener with Elīna's Latvian roots.

The album includes a couple of real discoveries like Prauliņš' Dievaines, but also some hit repertoire like the Cantique de Noel d'Adam. This is probably her most commercial album to date; the careful selected variety of the repertoire will attract a lot of new fans.

Latvian choirs are extremely famous worldwide, so it was natural for her to want a Latvian choir with her for this recording.

Two Latvian composers have been involved in the music for this recording - Uģis Prauliņš for his work Dievaines, and Eriks Esenvalds who has written an a cappella arrangement (Allegri Miserere) especially for this recording.

Elīna is joined on this recording by her husband, the well-known Gibraltan conductor Karel Mark Chichon OBE. This is their second collaboration on disc for DG following the success of Habanera.

A star of today and tomorrow.

"[Elina Garanca's] voice has become richer and more velvety....The sustained line in the 'Laudate Dominum' by Mozart is amazing, especially given the sedate pace, and her intonation is flawless throughout....Of the less well-known pieces, the "Ave Maria" by Gomez is simple and affecting, likewise the appealing Latvian folksongs." (Gramophone)

"This is the latest album from the superb Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca -- a peaceful and very personal selection of music from her homeland, in which she is ably supported by the renowned Latvian Radio Choir....Garanca has a creamy, rich voice which imbues every phrase with feeling and subtlety. The blending of traditional Latvian spiritual music with opera works well and this album should reinforce her position as one of today's outstanding voices and performers." Classic FM

"In addition to her sumptuous voice, Elina Garanca brings a spaciousness and generosity to her phrasing that are especially appealing in a recital designed for easy listening...the Latvian mezzo has plenty of control over color and timbre, and she manages each piece handsomely. Beautifully controlled high notes float softly or are delivered with pungent power, and the delicacy and weightless shimmer she brings to such chestnuts as Gounod's "Sanctus" and Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" are especially attractive." OperaNews

Tracks:

Adam:
O Holy Night

Allegri:
Miserere mei, Deus

Bizet:
Agnus Dei

Caccini, G:
Ave Maria

Gomez, W:
Ave Maria

Gounod:
Repentir (O Divine Redeemer)
St Cecilia Mass: Sanctus

Mascagni:
Ave Maria (arranged from Intermezzo sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana)
Regina coeli laetare (from Cavalleria Rusticana)

Mozart:
Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, K339: Laudate Dominum

Praulinš:
Dievaines

Puccini:
Salve Regina

Vasks:
Dusi dusi: No. 2 from Silent Songs
Paldies tev vela saule: No. 4 from Silent Songs

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