Sol y vida is Elīna Garanča’s journey to the South, from Spain to Italy and Latin America, and is her first album focusing entirely on non core-classical repertoire.

Be ready to expect a personal album from the mezzo-soprano, whose centre of life has been Spain for many years. A selection of songs, canzone and tango pieces, both mirroring and spreading a flamboyantly emotional array of beaming happiness, passionate longing and exuberant joy. A feast of vocal colours, and a firework of passion, from the well-known Granada to the intimate world of La Llorona.

Featuring jewels of Latin American song repertoire like Piazolla’s Yo soy Maria, originally part of a tango operita and Gracias a la vida, one of the most covered Latin American songs in history, both featuring guitarist José Maria Gallardo del Rey in new intimate arrangements.

Many of the popular pieces have mainly been sung by tenors, like Core ‘ngrato, which was probably written for Caruso or the popular Neapolitan song Torna a Surriento.

“This new album is my musical tribute to the people who live under southern skies, and to the beauty and diversity of their ways of life.” – Elīna Garanča