Renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has announced a new album sure to delight not only listeners of opera, but listeners of jazz and tango as well. Her new album, titled “Songplay,” will bring together musicians from numerous genres, hand-picked by DiDonato in a band led by pianist and arranger Craig Terry. Among them are bassist Chuck Isreals, drummer Jimmy Madison, Lautaro {…}
Joyce DiDonato has announced the release the film “The Florence Foster Jenkins Story.” The mezzo-soprano, who portrayed Jenkins in the documentary, announced that to celebrate the 150th birthday of Florence Foster Jenkins, the film would be available on July 19, 2018 on Amazon Prime UK and Amazon Prime USA. The documentary, directed by Ralf Pleger fuses documentary, fiction, and music film genres to take {…}
For the past five years, Parisian concertgoers have been able to celebrate Bastille Day, with a concert at the feet of the Eiffel Tower in the Champ-de-Mars. This year will be no different with Aida Garifullina and Joyce DiDonato set to star in the sixth edition of the event. But they will not be alone in the celebration. Alongside the {…}
Two important recordings will be released this week, including one world premiere and another continuing an acclaimed Mozart opera. Here is a look! The Cradle Will Rock Bridge Records will release the world premiere recording of Marc Blitzstein’s opera. The new recording features the composer’s original 1937 orchestrations and was recorded live at Opera Saratoga in July 2017. The recording {…}
Joyce DiDonato has announced that she will retire the role of “Cendrillon” in Massenet’s opera. The mezzo announced in an Instagram post that after 21 years with Cinderella she would be saying goodbye to the character. Massenet’s opera is the second Cinderella role she has performed at the Met and one of the two versions of character she has performed {…}
The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia has announced its 2018-19 season featuring an array of diverse repertoire. For this season announcement, we will only focus on the vocal performances. Orchestra Concerts The season opens with Bernstein’s “West Side Story” with Nadine Sierra and Alek Shrader in the lead roles with Antonio Pappano conducting. Jessica Vosk, Mark Stone, and Aigul Akhmetshina {…}
“Cendrillon” is a fairy tale that features a young girl whose dreams come true thanks to a faithful Fairy Godmother. At the Met, Alice Coote and Joyce DiDonato are headlining the opera about hope that has captivated children for years. On Thursday, April 26, 2018, the two mezzo-sopranos were playing the role of the Fairy Godmother for the children of {…}
Jules Massenet is one of the great composers that can’t be called an auteur in the traditional sense. When you go to any performance of music by virtually any composer, you can pretty much guarantee that said composer’s voice will come through consistently even if the means or style deviates ever so slightly. Verdi remains Verdi whether you are listening to {…}
This Saturday, audiences around the world will get a chance to see Massenet’s “Cendrillon” in cinemas as part of the company’s famed Live in HD broadcast. The showcase kicks off at 12:25 p.m. EDT and will star Joyce DiDonato as Cendrillon, Kathleen Kim as La Fée, Alice Coote as the Prince, Stephanie Blythe as Madame de la Haltière, and Laurent {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is slated for its latest premiere this week when it showcases Massenet’s “Cendrillon.” The opera, which is based on the tale of Cinderella will star Joyce DiDonato and is set to run between April 12 and May 11. The opera will also feature Alice Coote, Stephanie Blythe, Kathleen Kim, Laurent Naouri, all under the musical direction of {…}
Joyce DiDonato and Daniela Barcellona have won the Olivier Awards. The mezzo sopranos won the award for Best Achievement in Opera for their starring roles in “Semiramide” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden during a ceremony on Sunday. “Semiramide” also won Best New Opera Production. Barcellona accepted both awards thanking director David Alden, Rossini, and Sir Antonio Pappano. DiDonato {…}