Elīna Garanča releases new CD Habanera available Oct 26th

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Released October 26th in time for Carmen performances at the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall appearance with Alagna

Deutsche Grammophon releases Elīna Garanča’s Habanera. On this album, Garanča’s supple, seductive mezzo is aflame with the neon hues and rhythmic dash of Romany in excerpts from beguiling Gypsy roles from opera, operetta and song. With gorgeous pieces eliciting every gift Garanča boasts as a musician, Habanera's instrumental accompaniments – whether RAI’s full orchestra, small ensemble or guitar – add to the sultry atmosphere. Conductor Karel Mark Chichon contributes taut yet elastic leadership that enhances the charm and variety of Elīna Garanča’s selections.

On this album, the dialects derived from Gypsy musical language include Bizet’s Carmen, Bernstein’s Candide, Lehar’s Zigeunerliebe and little-known gems like Obradors’ El vito making for a musically enlightening and delightful program.

Every generation has its “must see” Carmen. In 2010, the list of definitive gypsy seductresses – glittering with names like Baltsa, Bumbry, Farrar, and Stevens – was enriched by the addition of Musical America’s 2010 Vocalist of the Year and Opera News cover artist Elīna Garanča. After her triumphant success as Carmen in Riga, London, and Munich, Elīna Garanča became “the most convincing Carmen in a long time” (New York Magazine) at the Metropolitan Opera where she made her role debut in January 2010 in a stunning new production by Richard Eyre (to be released on Deutsche Grammophon DVD on September 21st). Garanča returns to the Met for nine more performances in the role on November 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 27, 30 and December 4. Additionally, Elīna Garanča will appear with her co-star in the Carmen DVD, Roberto Alagna, at Carnegie Hall on October 25 in a concert performance of Massenet’s La Navarraise with the Opera Orchestra of New York.

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