Repressed passions, Russian melancholy: Elīna Garanča makes a splendid Wigmore Hall debut

Brahms, Duparc, Rachmaninov: Elīna Garanča ****

Elīna Garanča at Wigmore Hall
© Simon Jay Price

Wigmore Hall, 11th December 2015

Poise, control, stillness. Within two minutes of her Wigmore Hall debut, the qualities that make Elīna Garanča a consummate Lieder recitalist were evident. The Latvian mezzo is no scenery-chewing diva – admittedly, Brahms affords little opportunity for this – but a sense of repressed passion simmering beneath her cool exterior was palpable. Partnered by evergreen pianist Roger Vignoles, belying his 70 years and stepping in to this recital at short notice, Garanča treated us to a delectable programme of 14 Brahms’ Lieder balanced in the second half by Duparc and Rachmaninov.

Read the full review on Bachtrack.