Everything about Joyce Didonato totally explained
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. 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 didn't become interested in
opera until her junior year when she was cast in a school producation of
Die Fledermaus. After graduating from WSU in the Spring of 1992, DiDonato decided to pursue graduate studies in vocal performance at the
Academy of Vocal Arts. 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.
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 recieved a Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the
Shoshana Foundation.
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. 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.
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. In 2000 DiDonato received the prestigious
ARIA award, which annually recognizes "American vocal artists of exceptional ability and undeniable promise".
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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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. DiDonato won the
Metropolitan Opera’s
Beverly Sills Award in 2007.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Angelina- Cenerentola in Rossini's La Cenerentola click on this link: Watch Here
To hear Joyce DiDonato sing the role of Elmira in Handel's Floridante click on this link: 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.
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.
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 Catherine 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 Artes Florissants, and Aix-en-Provence Opera, aired on television in 2005, released on DVD 2005.Further Information
Get more info on 'Joyce Didonato'.
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