In a recent interview with the telegraph, the Latvian mezzo-soprano, Elīna Garanča has talked with regard to the #Metoo movement publicly slamming the impacts.
Before her performances at the Royal Opera House in a new production of “Samson et Dalila,” she told the publication that she was surprised there were no nasty jokes any further and also no more compliments.
In a statement, she stated, “nobody gives compliments anymore, nobody makes a dirty joke, nobody hugs you. I find it absurd that we must have a ‘movement coach’ on the set to tell us how to hug. Excuse me, but I know how to hug!”
Further, Garanča added that while she honored the victims though she also said that she was under situations of indelicacy and was aware of the ways to manage such circumstances. “I’ve had experiences, situations that you would consider… tricky.
But I never dwelt on them. More than one [man] has put a hand on my knee. But I am a woman who will put the hand back, say ‘that’s my line’, then walk on. There might be a colleague who tries to stick a tongue into you. OK. He tries it twice? I bite it. It does not happen again”, she stated.
She further said that she would never let such an incident interpret who she is and added that “I never made these experiences so important that they became my luggage to carry through the years. I found far more interesting things in my life to put my energy into.”
Garanča to Return to the Salzburg Festival
The 45-year-old mezzo also said in the interview that a number of colleagues who may have attempted to behave in an inappropriate manner have now learned to respect her.
Garanča stated “many of those who tried [it on] with me have grown to respect me and I continue working with them. Our communication has become respectful, artistic, and profound.
Excuse me, but I lived almost 40 years before #MeToo. I lived through times of wild, free expression and I cannot rewrite who I am now, because my personality was formed in a different time.”
She is all set to get back to the Salzburg Festival and this summer she will also make her Arena di Verona debut.
We will keep you updated with all the latest information until then stay tuned to our website.