Joyce DiDonato’s Rossini season heats up
“The lustrous, vivacious mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sings Rosina, and her fans will be eager to see her,” enthuses a New York Times listing for her recent return to the Metropolitan Opera as the spirited Rosina – her signature role. “Added to her lovely voice and precise coloratura were her superb dramatic skills: she spoke volumes with a sly smile or an arched eyebrow,” continues last week’s Times review, while Time Out New York’s review – the first – of her brand-new recording – Colbran, the Muse: Opera Arias by Rossini – opens:
“Here’s another bull’s-eye from the wondrous Joyce DiDonato, who’ll be thrilling Met audiences with Rossinian fireworks and lustrous tone in Il barbiere di Siviglia through November 7. On her new CD…, the brilliant Kansas mezzo has fashioned an eloquent tribute to Rossini’s wife and frequent inspiration, Isabella Colbran. … If you’re new to the composer’s delights, DiDonato’s offering is the place to start: today’s gold standard.”
Joyce DiDonato’s Rossini singing has lit up stages around the world. Only last week, EMI/Virgin Classics released her highly-anticipated new Rossini arias CD, and it’s already on the Billboard chart. On this new album – the follow-up to last season’s Billboard-charting Furore: Handel Opera Arias – the renowned mezzo sings scenes from six operas Rossini composed for the Spanish soprano Isabella Colbran (1785-1845), the composer’s muse and wife.
“Hers is surely the best-ever recorded performance of ‘Tanti affetti,’ the virtuoso finale from La donna del lago, an opera she’ll tackle this season in Geneva and Paris,” says Time Out New York. The disc includes another scene from La donna del lago as well as arias from Rossini’s Armida, Maometto II, Otello, Semiramide, and Elisabetta, regina d’Inghilterra.
The mezzo sings the generous program of Colbran, the Muse with the chorus and orchestra of Rome’s Accademia di Santa Cecilia under the baton of veteran bel canto specialist Edoardo Müller. DiDonato’s famous rendition of “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia is not on the CD – but is available now from EMI/Virgin Classics as a special exclusive download on iTunes.
DiDonato sings Rossini at the Met
This fall, Joyce DiDonato returned to the Metropolitan Opera to reprise her inimitable portrayal of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Her Rosina is already legendary, having been seen by millions in opera houses, high-definition transmissions, and broadcasts throughout the U.S. and around the world. Rosina’s signature aria “Una voce poco fa” has become a touchstone for DiDonato’s career. The New York Times described her 2007 performance at the annual Richard Tucker Gala as: “An ‘Una voce poco fa’ from Rossini’s Barbiere di Siviglia that was among the most spectacular vocal feats this listener has ever heard, thrown off with ease, a sense of fun and pinpoint control.” Joyce DiDonato’s much talked-about portrayal was captured and screened in an early Met: Live in HD transmission, with popular and frequent repeat screenings on TV and in theaters, and, more recently, free in the Lincoln Center Plaza (in front of the Met) in September. When she broke her leg during a June performance of Barbiere at London’s Covent Garden, DiDonato laudably carried off the evening with a cane – and finished the run of shows wearing a bright pink cast while navigating the set in a wheelchair, making the role of Rosina unequivocally hers. Late next spring, another Rossini opera, La donna del lago, provides the setting for DiDonato’s ninth role debut in six seasons, when she sings the role of Elena for the first time in Geneva (May 5, 2010); she reprises the part a few weeks later at the Paris Opéra with tenor Juan Diego Flórez (June 14, 2010).
Joyce DiDonato’s new CD track list on EMI Virgin Classics:
JOYCE DiDONATO
Colbran, the Muse – Opera Arias by Rossini
1. “D’amore al dolce impero” from Armida
2. “Oh! mattutini albori!” from La donna del lago
3. “Tanti affetti in tal momento” from La donna del lago
4. “Fra il padre, e fra l’amante” from La donna del lago
5. “Giusto ciel, in tal periglio” from Maometto II
6. “Quanto è grato all’alma mia” from Elisabetta, regina d’Inghilterra
7. “Serena i vaghi rai…” from Semiramide
8. “Bel raggio lusinghier” from Semiramide
9. “Ah! Dagli affanni oppressa” from Otello
10. “Nessun maggior dolore” from Otello
11. “O come infino al cor” from Otello
12. “Assisa a un piè d’un salice” from Otello
13. “Deh, calma, o ciel” from Otello
14. “Se al mio crudel” from Armida
15. “Dove son’io” from Armida
16. “È ver…gode quest’anima” from Armida
Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia / Edoardo Müller
Joyce DiDonato’s 2009-10 season engagements:
October 15
New York, NY
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
Metropolitan Opera / Maurizio Benini
Also: Oct 24, 27, 31; Nov 4, 7
October 25
New York, NY
George London Foundation Recital (with Eric Owens)
The Morgan Library & Museum
November 5
New York, NY
New York City Opera Gala
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center
November 16
San Francisco, CA
Recital at Herbst Theatre
November 19
New York, NY
Opera News Awards
November 29
Los Angeles, CA
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
Los Angeles Opera / Michele Mariotti
(Company debut)
Also: December 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19
December 31
Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden, Germany
New Year’s Eve Gala (Silvester-Concert)
RSO Stuttgart des SWR / Stéphane Denève
2010
Recital tour: “Three Centuries of Italian Love Songs”
January 18
Madrid, Spain (Teatro de la Zarzuela)
January 20
Telde, Canary Islands
January 24
Barcelona, Spain (Gran Teatre del Liceu)
January 26, 28
London, UK (Wigmore Hall)
January 30
Brussels, Belgium (La Monnaie)
February 28
Chicago, IL
Lyric Opera of Chicago / Edward Gardner
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro (Cherubino)
Also: March 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27
May 5
Geneva, Switzerland
Grand Théâtre de Genève / Paolo Arrivabeni
Rossini: La donna del lago (Elena – role debut)
Also: May 7, 9, 11, 14, 17
June 14
Paris, France
Opéra National de Paris / Roberto Abbado
Rossini: La donna del lago (Elena)
Also: June 18, 21, 24, 27, 30
June 16
Paris, France
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Recital
July 9
Milan, Italy
Teatro alla Scala / Jean-Christophe Spinosi
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
Also: July 12, 15, 17, 20, 23
© 21C Media Group, October