Elīna Garanča

Mezzo-soprano KS Elīna Garanča was born into a musical family in Riga, Latvia. She studied at the Latvian Academy of Music with her mother. She won the Mirjam Helin Singing Competition in 1999 and was a finalist in the 2001 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. She began her professional career as a resident artist with the Südthüringischer Staatstheater in Meiningen where she appeared in many leading roles. She later appeared as a resident artist with Oper Frankfurt and, since 2003, with the Wiener Staatsoper. Since then, she has established herself as one of the music world’s major stars through her performances with leading opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world. She has captured critical and popular acclaim for her beautiful voice, intelligent musicianship, and compelling stage portrayals. In September 2005 she became an exclusive artist with Deutsche Grammophon (DG). During the 2019/20 season, she sang Dalila in a new production of »Samson et Dalila« at Staatsoper Berlin with Daniel Barenboim. She also sang at various festivals and galas throughout Europe, Japan, South America and beyond. Recent highlights include a critically-acclaimed role debuts in new productions as Princess Eboli in »Don Carlos« at the Opéra national de Paris, and Dalila in »Samson et Dalila« at the Wiener Staatsoper and Metropolitan Opera. Other highlights include a new production of »La Favorite« at Bayerische Staatsoper (recently released on DVD by DG). She also starred in a new production of »Der Rosenkavalier« at the Metropolitan Opera - broadcast in cinemas worldwide. Ms Garanča has been the recipient of many awards: Musical America’s »Vocalist of the Year« 2010; MIDEM's »Singer of the Year« 2007 and the ECHO Klassik award for »Female Singer of the Year« the same year. She has also given numerous gala concerts and recitals across the world, including the Verdi Requiem from Teatro alla Scala and regular recitals at Carnegie Hall in New York and Wigmore Hall in London. In May 2013, Ms Garanča was honoured by the Weiner Staatsoper with the title of »Kammersängerin«. One of the youngest recipients of the Award, Ms Garanča was honoured for her devotion to the House, singing over one hundred and forty performances of eighteen roles since her debut in the House in 2003, beginning with the small role of Lola (»Cavalleria rusticana«), and now the House's reigning Carmen, Sesto (»La clemenza di Tito«), Giovanna Seymour (»Anna Bolena«), Charlotte (»Werther«) and Octavian.