Georges Bizet - 20 Songs, Op. 21 (Justina Gringytė; Malcolm Martineau)

Information

Composer: Georges Bizet

• 20 Songs, Op. 21

Justina Gringytė, mezzo-soprano

Malcolm Martineau, piano

Date: 2025

Label: Ondine

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Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Justina Gringytė, joined by pianist Malcolm Martineau, makes her Ondine debut with the first complete recording of Georges Bizet’s Vingt Mélodies, Op. 21. This release, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of Bizet’s death in 2025, highlights a neglected gem of the composer’s output. Written between 1854 and 1872, these 20 songs reveal Bizet’s refined sensitivity to the human voice, often likened to Mozart’s, and stand alongside his operatic masterpieces in expressive depth and artistry. Gringytė, one of opera’s rising stars, brings fresh attention to these works, reaffirming their place among Bizet’s most representative creations.

Justina Gringytė (b. 1986), award-winning Lithuanian mezzo-soprano, is praised for her “knockout technique” and “thunderously powerful voice.” A former Jette Parker Young Artist at Covent Garden, she has appeared at prestigious events including the London Olympics Opening Ceremony and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee concert. Internationally acclaimed as Carmen, she has sung leading roles at major houses such as Opéra national de Paris, Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu, ENO, Bolshoi, and Korean National Opera. On the concert stage, she collaborates with top orchestras and conductors including Pappano, Dudamel, and Salonen, and appears at venues like Wigmore Hall.

Malcolm Martineau (b. 1960) is internationally acclaimed as one of the UK’s foremost accompanists, performing with leading singers such as Sir Thomas Allen, Elina Garanca, Thomas Hampson, Anne Sofie von Otter, and Sonya Yoncheva. He has appeared at major venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Musikverein, Wigmore Hall, and the Sydney Opera House, as well as at the Salzburg, Aix-en-Provence, and Vienna Festivals. Martineau has curated concert series at Wigmore Hall and the Edinburgh Festival. A dedicated pedagogue, he is Professor at the Royal Academy of Music and International Fellow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2016 he was appointed OBE for services to music and young singers.

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