Customer Reviews

Debut

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Inessa Galante is generally obscure, unknown and certainly no big name opera star. If she sang in recent years, she must have been eclipsed by the stars of the opera world whose stars have shone more brightly- Cecilia Bartoli, Kiri Te Kanawa, Andrea Rost, Sumi Jo, Angela Gheorgiou, Renee Fleming, the list can go on and on. If Inessa Galante sang in the 60's and 70's, then people must have missed her as they payed closer attention to the 60's songbirds - Joan Sutherland, Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballe, Edita Gruberova, etc. But Inessa Galante has genuine class and charm that go hand in hand with a gorgeous voice. Her Spanish ethnic background adds fuel and fire to her singing. She may lack in some acting abilities, but this is no new thing to many sopranos, or tenors for that matter. She has the perfect and suitable "recording" voice. Here is her debut album. Inessa Galante's art is very moving and very pleasant to listen to. So buy this album and her Encore album, put it on your cd player or stereo or car stereo and get ready to surround yourself in the beauty of a woman's voice.

Inessa Galante is most famous for performing a credible Violetta in La Traviata. She looks the part and sings the part with conviction and with luminous beauty. Her "Addio Del Passato" is featured here. Although Inessa is primarily a bel canto and lyric soprano, she dared to sing the role of Norma. Here we have that master aria "Casta Diva" which most light-voiced sopranos would sell their souls to sing with such dramatic and effective lyric beauty. Galante's interpretation of "Casta Diva" is as light as Beverly Sill's version, and of course is a lot softer in weight than the versions of Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas. But her version of the demanding aria is very touching and moving and we must give her kudos and credit for even attempting the role of Norma.

The album further showcases a lot of Inessa's strengths. She makes a wonderful Micaela from Bizet's opera "Carmen". As Micaela, she is lyric, moving, inspirational and by far the finest Micaela I've heard, and considering I've heard many fine versions- Mirella Freni, Kiri Te Kenawa and Faith Escham. In addition, she makes a gorgeous Juliet from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet". Her bouncy aria "Je Vouz Vivre" is exceptional. She is appropriately youthful, lively and hopelessly romantic. In her Juliet, she far outshines even Angela Gheorgiu, who I find sings with fine squillo but is too old and mature (even in her mezzo-like voice) to sing the part of a young and naive Juliet. Inessa has joined the ranks of sopranos who have sang Juliet with great acclaim - Beverly Sills, Kathleen Battle and Ruth Anne Swenson. Buy this album and prepare yourself for the beauty of Inessa Galante.

The music here is beautifully sang rather than thoughtfully interpreted, and the recital is not impregnated with the new insights on interpretation of the standard arias. Rather, it gives one a chance to witness a steadily disappearing phenomenon - a singer who, in the right repertory, has total control over her voice. Though she is, probably, better to stay away from coloratura, her spinto voice fits Boito, Bellini and Verdi's music like a glove and she achieves some magnificent singing(so many sopranos sound as if they are in a battle with the music). I give Galante five stars for a good performance and plenty of musical talent.

I love her singing and voice more than any other well known soprano singers'. She sings beautifully; emotionally moving and technically amazing. All songs in this CD are beautiful. Ave Maria is especially beautiful and Villa-Lobos is very special.

Inessa Galante is a Latvian star soprano. In addition to a very beautiful voice, there's a lot of emotion and artistic warmth in every aria.

My favorite: Bellini's Norma and Ave Maria.

I've had this CD playing in my car for two years now.

I am not a critic of Opera, and quite frankly, this is my first Opera CD. I purchased it several years ago when I heard it being played at Tower Records in the classical section. I asked the sales person what it was I was listening to and she told me. It was so beautiful, I had to buy it. And I have been playing it ever since then. My favorite is Ave Maria #8.

The singer Inessa, from Latvia, has an absolutely exquisite voice. Her depth and expression are astonishing, and there is much variety on this CD.
The two Ave Marias are especially stunning.