Search - Jacques Offenbach, Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss :: Elina Garanca - Aria Cantilena

Great from start to finish

Kyle E. Lockhart | Texas USA | 03/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this and listened through it once and thought it was just "okay." However, after listening more I think I was out of my mind not to realize the first second I heard this voice that it was something special. I am familiar with all the pieces on the disc and can say her versions stand up with the best. I would highly suggest getting this disc."

A wonderful mezzo voice

Steven A. Peterson | Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL) | 12/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Elina Garanca displays a lush, rich mezzo voice in this CD. She also shows strong coloratura technique and handles the bel canto repertoire with aplomb. The liner notes have her mentioning that some have suggested that she might try the soprano repertoire; however, her mezzo portfolio is superb, and I hope that she stays there.



A few representative cuts from this CD.



Chapi, "Al pensar en el dueno de mis amores" (from "The Daughters of Zebedeo"). The first cut on this CD immediately introduces the listener to her rich mezzo soprano voice. This is an animated piece, and she handles it with great agility in her singing. As the pace picks up more toward the end, she picks up her pace, too. Well sung.



Offenbach, "Vois sous l'archet fremmisant" (from "The Tales of Hoffmann"). This is a more poignant song, and slower paced. Garanca plays Hoffmann's younger friend (a male) and sings of love. A poignant piece sung poignantly. She shows good range from lower to higher notes in her singing, and finishes with a nicely executed high note.



Rossini, "Nacqui all'affanno e al pianto" (from "La Cenerentola"). Very nice agile singing here! She displays nice coloratura technique. In the closing portion, she does very well indeed, concluding with a nice high note. Her voice does not quite soar over the ensemble toward the end, but--overall--a very nicely done work. Much fun to listen to!



Rossini, "Per lui che adoro" (from "L'Italiana in Algeri"). Another well sung work, once more illustrating her rich voice and once more showing off excellent technique.



All in all, a most enjoyable CD. She joins a number of excellent mezzo sopranos in the current era (including Vivica Genaux, Magdalena Kozena, and so on), and holds her own in comparison with them.

"

GORGEOUS...........................

Robert C. Hufford | Hopewell, VA USA | 07/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...The girl....the voice...the production....EVERYTHING... I bought this after being well impressed with Elina on You Tube, and I was absolutely blown away. This is one of the finest releases by a relatively new singer in a long time. Yes, I know this is not her first record, and she's past 30, but she's just now hitting her stride....



Some cuts are better known than others...the recitative and aria "non piu mesta", from Rossini's "La Cenerentola" is, for me, the highlight. The "Werther" selection is fabulous, and the "Der Rosenkavalier" excerpt is worth the price of the whole thing.



Elina has a pure, clean, voice, with a strong, even, register...high notes a soprano could envy, and if not the strongest bottom register, still one that never breaks. I realize my self-admitted weakness for gorgeous blondes with low voices; allow for it, but grab this recording, and prepare to fall in love."