Joyce DiDonato

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Joyce DiDonato (b. 1969) is an award winning American operatic mezzo-soprano particularly admired for her interpretations of the works of Handel, Mozart, and Rossini. DiDonato has performed with many of the world's leading opera companies and orchestras.

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[edit] Early life and education

Joyce DiDonato (maiden name Flaherty) was born in Prairie Village, Kansas in 1969, the sixth of seven children in a close-knit Irish-American family. She sang in choir and musicals in high school and dreamed of becoming a Broadway star or pop singer.[1] DiDonato entered Wichita State University in the Fall of 1988 where she studied vocal music education. DiDonato was initially more interested in teaching highschool vocal music and musical theater and did not become interested in opera until her junior year when she was cast in a school producation of Die Fledermaus.[2] After graduating from WSU in the Spring of 1992, DiDonato decided to pursue graduate studies in vocal performance at the Academy of Vocal Arts.[3] Following her studies in Philadelphia, Dunn was accepted in Santa Fe Opera's young artist program in 1995. While there Dunn appeared in several minor roles and understudied for larger parts in such operas as Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Richard Strauss' Salome, Kálmán’s The Countess Maritza and the world premiere of David Lang’s Modern Painters. DiDonato was honored as the Outstanding Apprentice Artist by the Santa Fe Opera that year. In 1996 DiDonato became a part of Houston Grand Opera's young artist program where she sang from the fall of 1996 to the spring of 1998. During the summer of 1997, DiDonato participated in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program.[4]

During her apprentice years, DiDonato competed in several notable vocal competitions. In 1996 she won second prize in the Eleanor McCollum Competition and was a district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In 1997 she won a Sullivan Award. In 1998 she won second prize in the Placido Domingo Operalia Competition, first place in the Stewart Awards, won the George London Competition, and a received a Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation.[5]

[edit] Career

DiDonato began her professional career in the 1998-1999 season singing with several regional opera companies in the United States. She most notably appeared as the main heroine, Maslova, in the world premiere of Tod Machover’s Resurrection with the Houston Grand Opera.[6] She also gave a critically acclaimed recital in San Francisco that year as part of the lauded Schwabacher recital series.

In the 1999-2000 season, DiDonato performed the role of Meg in the world premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women with the Houston Grand Opera. She also performed the role of Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Santa Fe Opera and the role of Isabella in Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri with the New Israeli Opera. In addition, DiDonato gave a recital at New York’s Morgan Library under the auspices of the George London Foundation and sang the mezzo-soprano solos in the Seattle Symphony's production of Handel’s Messiah.[7]

In the 2000-2001 season, DiDonato made her debut at La Scala as Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola, returned to Houston Grand Opera as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte, and sang the mezzo-soprano solos in Bach's B Minor Mass with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and conductor John Nelson.[8] In 2000 DiDonato received the prestigious ARIA award, which annually recognizes "American vocal artists of exceptional ability and undeniable promise".[9]

In the 2001-2002 season DiDonato made her debut with Washington National Opera as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte, her debut with De Nederlandse Opera as Sesto in Handel's Giulio Cesare, her debut with Opéra National de Paris as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, her debut with Bayerische Staatsoper as Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Zubin Mehta, and returned to Santa Fe Opera to perform the role of Annio in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito. She also made several concert appearances including performances of Vivaldi's Gloria with Riccardo Muti and the La Scala Orchestra and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. DiDonato was awarded the prestigious Richard Tucker Award in 2002.[10]

In the 2002-2003 season DiDonato made her debut with the New York City Opera as Sister Helen in Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking, her debut with Théâtre du Châtelet in the title role of Rossini's La cenerentola, her debut with Royal Opera at Covent Garden as Zlatohrbitek the fox in Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and her debut with New National Theatre in Tokyo as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia. She also performed the title role in Rossini's Adina at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and the role of Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Bastille. In concert, DiDonato performed Mozart's Requiem with the Seattle Symphony, Berlioz's Les nuits d'été with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in a production of Bach's Mass in B minor with the Orchestra of St. Luke's under the baton of Peter Schreier. She also toured Europe with Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre in performances of Les nuits d'été.[11] In 2003 DiDonato was the recipient of New York City Opera's Richard Gold Debut Award

In the 2003-2004 season DiDonato made her debut with the San Francisco Opera as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and reprised the same role with Houston Grand Opera. She also performed the role of Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo with De Nederlandse Opera and at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. She also sang the role of Ascanio in a concert performance of Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini with l'Orchestre National de France and appeared in solo recitals at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Kansas City's Folly Theater, and Wigmore Hall among others. She also sang at the Hollywood Bowl music festival in a production of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[12]

In the 2004-2005 season, DiDonato made her debut with the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Elisabetta in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda. She also returned to La Scala in the role of Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola and once again played the role of Rosina in a new production of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia by Luca Ronconi at the Pesaro Festival and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna.[13]

In the 2005-2006 season, DiDonato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and also played the role of Stéphano in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette at the Met. She also returned to Covent Garden as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, sang her first Sesto in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito with Grand Théâtre de Genève, and sang the role of Dejanira in Handel's Hercules at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and at the Barbican Centre in London with William Christie. In addition, DiDonato appeared in several concerts with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and gave a recital at Wigmore Hall in London. She also closed the Santa Fe Opera's 50th Anniversary season in the title role of Massenet's Cendrillon.[14] In 2006 DiDonato was awarded the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Singer Award.

In the 2006-2007 season, DiDonato made her debut at the Teatro Real as the Composer in Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, returned to Opéra National de Paris as Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo, and returned to Houston Grand Opera as Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola. She also sang the role of Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Metropolitan Opera and sang her first Octavian in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier with San Francisco Opera. She also toured the US and Europe on an extensive recital tour with accompianist Julius Drake.[15] DiDonato won the Metropolitan Opera’s Beverly Sills Award in 2007.[16]

In the 2007-2008 season, DiDonato made her debut at the Liceu as Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola and her debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. She also sang the title role in Handel’s Alcina with Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco and the title role in Handel’s Ariodante for Geneva with Grand Théâtre de Genève. She is currently singing the role of Roméo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Opera Bastille and will return to Madrid’s Teatro Real as Idamante in Mozart’s Idomeneo in July 2008. DiDonato also gave recitals at La Scala, Lincoln Center, and the Academy of Music and performed a special concert of Handel arias which was recorded in Brussels. [17][18]

In the 2008-2009 season, DiDonato is scheduled to return to Covent Garden as Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni and as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. She will also be performing the roles of Beatrice in Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict with Houston Grand Opera, Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo with Opéra National de Paris, and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in her debut with Wiener Staatsoper. DiDonato will also appear in concerts with the New York Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony, and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the latter of which under the baton of James Levine. She will also be touring Europe and the United States with Les Talens Lyriques giving concerts of Handel arias and will give performances at Wigmore Hall and the Rossini Opera Festival.[19]

DiDonato also has sung in concert with the SWR Orchestra Kaiserslautern, The King's Consort, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony among others.[20]

[edit] Personal Life

DiDonato is currently married to Italian conductor Leonardo Vordoni with whom she lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She was married once previously and continues to use her first husband's surname professionally.[21]

[edit] Opera Roles

@ Indicates a world premiere

[edit] Listen

[edit] Discography

[edit] Complete Opera Recordings

[edit] Concert Recordings

  • Antonio Vivaldi: The Complete Sacred Music with conductor Robert King and The King's Consort, released 2005, Hyperion label.
  • Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Nights Dream with conductor John Nelson and the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, released 2003, EMI Classics label.

[edit] Solo Recordings

  • Amor e gelosia: Handel Operatic Duets with Patrizia Ciofi, conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2004, Virgin Classics label.
  • The Deepest Desire, accompanied by David Zobel, released 2006, Eloquentia label.
  • Joyce DiDonato: Songs by Fauré, Hahn and Head · Arias by Rossini and Handel, live recording at Wigmore Hall, accompanied by Julius Drake, released 2006, Wigmore Hall Live label.
  • ¡Pasión!, accompanied by Julius Drake, released 2007, Eloquentia label.

[edit] Other Recordings

  • William Barnewitz: Long Road Home, DiDonato appears as a guest artist, released 2007, Avie label.
  • Placido Domingo's Operalia '98: A Tribute to Passion and Soul, released 1998, Montblanc label.

[edit] Film and Television Appearances

  • Gala Jean-Philippe Rameau - Concert du 20ème anniversaire des Musiciens du Louvre, aired on television in 2003.

[edit] References

  1. ^ New York Philharmonic: A Hear & Now Concert Alan Gilbert Conducts Mahler and Lieberson
  2. ^ Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
  3. ^ About Joyce DiDonato
  4. ^ DiDonato
  5. ^ JOYCE DIDONATO: mezzo-soprano
  6. ^ Resurrection
  7. ^ Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography
  8. ^ Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography
  9. ^ JOYCE DIDONATO: mezzo-soprano
  10. ^ JOYCE DIDONATO: mezzo-soprano
  11. ^ LA Phil Presents | About the Performer - Joyce DiDonato
  12. ^ LA Phil Presents | About the Performer - Joyce DiDonato
  13. ^ Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography
  14. ^ Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography
  15. ^ San Francisco Opera :: Joyce DiDonato
  16. ^ Opera News > The Met Opera Guild
  17. ^ San Francisco Opera :: Joyce DiDonato
  18. ^ Joyce DiDonato
  19. ^ Joyce DiDonato
  20. ^ New York Philharmonic: A Hear & Now Concert Alan Gilbert Conducts Mahler and Lieberson
  21. ^ About Joyce DiDonato
  22. ^ Joyce DiDonato

[edit] External links