Joyce DiDonato

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.

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. [ [http://nyphil.org/attend/season/index.cfm?page=eventDetail&eventNum=1537&seasonNum=8&dateRequested=05/07/2009 New York Philharmonic: A Hear & Now Concert Alan Gilbert Conducts Mahler and Lieberson ] ] DiDonato entered Wichita State University in the Fall of 1988 where she studied vocal music education. She 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". [ [http://www.wichita.edu/my/events/item.asp?DATE=10/7/2003&sysid=14159 Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas ] ] After graduating from WSU in the Spring of 1992, DiDonato decided to pursue graduate studies in vocal performance at the Academy of Vocal Arts. [ [http://www.johnpierce.us/opera/didonato.html About Joyce DiDonato ] ] Following her studies in Philadelphia, she was accepted in Santa Fe Opera's young artist program in 1995. While there she 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 she 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. [ [http://www.operaonline.us/didonato.htm DiDonato ] ]

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. [ [http://www.fanfaire.com/aria/didonato.html JOYCE DIDONATO: mezzo-soprano ] ]

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. [ [http://www.houstontheatre.com/resurr01.html Resurrection ] ] 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". [ [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/DiDonato-Joyce.htm Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography ] ]

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. [ [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/DiDonato-Joyce.htm Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography ] ] In 2000 DiDonato received the prestigious ARIA award, which annually recognizes "American vocal artists of exceptional ability and undeniable promise". [ [http://www.fanfaire.com/aria/didonato.html JOYCE DIDONATO: mezzo-soprano ] ]

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. [ [http://www.fanfaire.com/aria/didonato.html JOYCE DIDONATO: mezzo-soprano ] ]

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". [ [http://www.laphil.com/music/artist_detail.cfm?id=1444 LA Phil Presents | About the Performer - Joyce DiDonato ] ] 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. [ [http://www.laphil.com/music/artist_detail.cfm?id=1444 LA Phil Presents | About the Performer - Joyce DiDonato ] ]

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. [ [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/DiDonato-Joyce.htm Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography ] ]

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". [ [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/DiDonato-Joyce.htm Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo-soprano) - Short Biography ] ] 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. [ [http://sfopera.com/artistbio.asp?castcrewid=927 San Francisco Opera :: Joyce DiDonato ] ] DiDonato won the Metropolitan Opera’s Beverly Sills Award in 2007. [ [http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/news/pressrelease.aspx?id=1405 Opera News > The Met Opera Guild ] ]

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. [ [http://sfopera.com/artistbio.asp?castcrewid=927 San Francisco Opera :: Joyce DiDonato ] ] [ [http://www.joycedidonato.com/englishbio1.html Joyce DiDonato ] ]

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. [ [http://www.joycedidonato.com/englishsched1.html Joyce DiDonato ] ]

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. [ [http://nyphil.org/attend/season/index.cfm?page=eventDetail&eventNum=1537&seasonNum=8&dateRequested=05/07/2009 New York Philharmonic: A Hear & Now Concert Alan Gilbert Conducts Mahler and Lieberson ] ]

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. [ [http://www.johnpierce.us/opera/didonato.html About Joyce DiDonato ] ]

Opera Roles

:* Adina, "Adina" (Rossini):* Alcina, "Alcina" (Handel):* Angelina- Cenerentola, "La Cenerentola" (Rossini):* Annius, "La clemenza di Tito" (Mozart):* Ariodante, "Ariodante" (Handel):* Ascanio, "Benvenuto Cellini" (Berlioz):* Beatrice, "Béatrice et Bénédict" (Berlioz):* Cendrillon, "Cendrillon" (Massenet):* Cherubino, "The Marriage of Figaro" (Mozart):* The Composer "Ariadne auf Naxos" (Richard Strauss):* Dejanira, "Hercules" (Handel):* Donna Elvira, "Don Giovanni" (Mozart):* Dorabella, "Cosi fan tutte" (Mozart):* Elisabetta, "Maria Stuarda" (Donizetti):* Elmira, "Floridante" (Handel):* Grace Kelly, "Jackie O" (Michael Daugherty) @:* Idamante, "Idomeneo" (Mozart):* Isabella, "The Italian Girl in Algiers" (Rossini):* Maslova, "Resurrection (Tod Machover) @:* Meg, "Little Women (Mark Adamo) @:* Octavian, "Der Rosenkavalier" (Richard Strauss) :* Romeo, "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" (Vincenzo Bellini):* Rosina, "The Barber of Seville" (Rossini):* Sesto, "Giulio Cesare" (Handel):* Sextus, "La clemenza di Tito" (Mozart):* Sister Helen, "Dead Man Walking" (Jake Heggie) :* Stephano, "Romeo et Juliette (Charles Gounod):* Zlatohrbitek the fox, "The Cunning Little Vixen (Janacek)

@ Indicates a world premiere

Listen

* To hear Joyce DiDonato sing the role of Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" click on this link: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysGFMx6NOEY&feature=related Watch Here]

* To hear Joyce DiDonato sing the role of Angelina- Cenerentola in Rossini's "La Cenerentola" click on this link: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UszV0Mb0ti8 Watch Here]

* To hear Joyce DiDonato sing the role of Elmira in Handel's "Floridante" click on this link: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRkIMsIW-uM Watch Here]

Discography

Complete Opera Recordings

* Angelina- Cenerentola in Rossini's "La Cenerentola" with conductor Alberto Zedda and SWR Orchestra Kaiserslautern, released 2005, Naxos label.
* Ascanio in Berlioz's "Benvenuto Cellini" with conductor John Nelson and Orchestre National de France, released 2005, Virgin Classics label.
* Elmira in Handel's "Floridante" with conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2007, Archiv Produktion label.
* Grace Kelly in Michael Daugherty's "Jackie O" with conductor Catherine Ciesinski and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, released 1997, Decca label.
* Maslova in Tod Machover's "Resurrection" with conductor Patrick Summers and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, released 1999, Albany Records.
* Meg March in Mark Adamo's "Little Women" with conductor Catherine Ciesinski and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, released 2001, Ondine label.
* Radamisto in Handel's "Radamisto" with conductor Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, released 2005, Virgin Classics label.

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.

* Mozart: The Last Concerto 1791 with conductor Frans Bruggen and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, released 2002, Glossa label.

olo 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.

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.

Film and Television Appearances

* Meg March in Mark Adamo's "Little Women" with conductor Katherine Ciesinski and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, aired on PBS' "Great Performances" in 2001.

* Rosina in Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia" with conductor Bruno Campanella and Opera National de Paris, aired on television in 2002, released on DVD 2002.

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

* Dejanira in Handel's "Hercules" with conductor William Christie, Les Arts Florissants, and Aix-en-Provence Festival, aired on television in 2005, released on DVD 2005. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1125732/ Joyce DiDonato ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.joycedidonato.com/ Joyce DiDonato Official Website]
* [http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/didonato-0808.shtml An interview with Joyce DiDonato September 2008]
* [http://www.yankeediva.blogspot.com/ "Yankee Diva" Joyce DiDonato's Blog]
* [http://www.imgartists.com/?page=artist&id=106&c=2 Joyce DiDonato's Management at IMG Artists]
* [http://www.emiclassics.com/artistbiography.php?aid=94 Joyce DiDonato - Virgin Classics Official Website]
* [http://www.emiclassics.co.uk/search_new.php?q=joyce%20didonato Joyce DiDonato - EMI Classics UK for Concert Dates and Releases in the UK]
* [http://www.emimusic.de/joycedidonato Joyce DiDonato - EMI Classics Germany]