thu 28/03/2024

When crossover goes haywire | reviews, news & interviews

When crossover goes haywire

When crossover goes haywire

No one's saying that the mezzo of the moment, glamorous Latvian Elina Garanca, isn't a very class act indeed when it comes to high-quality opera, song and even zarzuela. But she didn't revert to the Age of Aquarius too successfully in this ill-advised TV show appearance, clearly not having visited Hair when it was on in London. The only protest here might have been from the hapless spectators. And the look makes Kiri as Michael Jackson on her Blue Skies album cover seem dignified.

Below, Elina Garanca sings "Aquarius" from Hair

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So let's be fair, and see and hear Ms Garanca at her best. On the operatic stage, she's singing every bit as well as she did when she made such an impression at - but failed to win - the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition back in 2001.

Below, Elina Garanca sings Rossini's "Non piu mesta"

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Small point... Cardiff 2001 was won by Marius Brenciu, not Garanca.... The following from the BBC web site .... 2001: Dame Joan Sutherland returned to the jury for the fifth time and Marilyn Horne for the third. This year saw history made when the 27-year-old Romanian tenor Marius Brenciu won both the Song Prize and what by now had become the most coveted title in the world of opera.

Not so small, you're right - I had a nagging doubt that she didn't win it, and was misled by an online heading...ah yes, Brenciu, he was good too in Lensky's aria. Have duly corrected in the main text. Thanks for that.

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