Elina Garanca Latvian opera singer, mezzo-soprano Date of Birth: 16.09.1976 Country: Latvia

1. Biography of Elina Garanca
2. Education and Early Career
3. International Success
4. Personal Life and Recordings

Biography of Elina Garanca

Elina Garanca is a Latvian opera singer and mezzo-soprano, and one of the newest stars in the world of music. She was born on September 16, 1976, in Riga, Latvia, into a family of musicians. Her father is a choir director, and her mother is a singer specializing in romances and a vocal teacher. Anita Garanca, Elina's mother, is a professor at the Latvian Academy of Music and teaches at the Latvian Academy of Culture. She is also a vocal coach at the Latvian National Opera, where she also gives private lessons. Elina's older brother, Janis, initially studied music but later switched to computer design.

Education and Early Career

In 1996, Elina became a student at the Latvian Academy of Music, where she studied vocal under the guidance of Sergei Martinov. One of the most influential events in Elina's education was her performance as Giovanna Seymour in Gaetano Donizetti's opera "Anna Bolena" in 1998. She learned the role in just ten days and developed a deep affinity for bel canto repertoire. She continued her studies in Vienna under Irina Gavrilovic and in the United States under Virginia Zeani, a renowned Romanian soprano and teacher.

Elina made her professional opera debut at the Suedthueringisches Staatstheater Meiningen in Germany, where she performed various roles, including Octavian in "Der Rosenkavalier." She then worked at the Frankfurt Opera. In 1999, she won the Mirjam Helin Singing Competition in Helsinki, Finland.

International Success

Elina gained international recognition in 2003 when she performed the role of Annio in Mozart's "La clemenza di Tito" at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt. This performance led to numerous engagements and opportunities. She portrayed Charlotte in "Werther" and Dorabella in "Così fan tutte" at the Vienna State Opera in 2004. In 2005, she repeated her performance as Dorabella in a Paris production directed by Patrice Chéreau. In 2006, she returned to "La clemenza di Tito," this time singing the role of Sesto.

On January 12, 2008, Elina made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, performing the role of Rosina in Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia." Critics praised her vocal agility, speed, and comfort with the complex Rossini repertoire. In 2010, she added the lead role in Bizet's "Carmen" at the Metropolitan Opera to her repertoire.

Personal Life and Recordings

Elina Garanca is married to British conductor Karel Mark Chichon. She has a wide discography, including recordings of Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi," "Norma," excerpts from Mozart's operas, Rossini's "La cenerentola," Bizet's "Carmen," and Antonio Vivaldi's "Bajazet" under the direction of Fabio Biondi, where she sang the role of Andronico. She signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 2005.