The film of The Hours failed to effectively weave together the novel’s trio of threads of interiority about suicide and secondarily literary creation. I wondered if an opera would stand a better chance at achieving that? Based on Tuesday’s diva-encrusted stage premiere of Kevin Puts and Greg Pierce’s The Hours, its creators didn’t pull it off either.
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To conclude its triumphant season, last week the Met Orchestra performed its annual Carnegie Hall concerts under music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and once again performed superbly.
A concert performance featuring Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres, with Il Pomo d’Oro Choir and Orchestra conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.
By La Cieca
Fueled by a fierce intelligence, deep earnestness, exceptional eloquence, and social media savvy, Joyce DiDonato is a presence and a power, as much when speaking and thinking as when singing. Who better to imagine a program that would suit this (we hope) unique moment?
“American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sings a program of alluring and acrobatic arias, accompanied by piano and chamber ensemble, in a unique venue—the converted Jahrhunderthalle in Germany’s Ruhr area.”
By La Cieca
A change of pace this afternoon: Joyce DiDonato and Piotr Beczala sing excerpts from Werther.
By La Cieca
Handel’s biting Agrippina finally arrived at the Metropolitan Opera Thursday evening 310 years after its Venetian premiere.
Joyce DiDonato’s take on Winterreise is a conceptual misstep that, song after song, frustratingly dilutes and distracts from an often rewarding musical performance.
By David Fox
Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, always with a gift for gab, is ever more loquacious in concerts, often talking directly to the audience.
By David Fox
High concept! Joyce DiDonato is Mrs. Roper!
By La Cieca
The Met Live in 2018-2020 HD series (including Joyce DiDonato‘s role debut as Carlotta Campion) is now on sale.
By La Cieca
“Semiramide—a better opera than this dude expected!”
By Jon Taylor
Bellini’s Norma Monday evening didn’t at all improve on the production it was replacing.
I don’t usually attend a performance of an opera I’ve known well most of my life expecting a revelation.
The Bayerische Staatsoper just announced, in addition to their usual bounty of webcasts, two special presentations: a repeat of Semiramide and a live telecast of Andrea Chenier.
By La Cieca
Watch and discuss, cher public, as the Bayerische Staatsoper streams a new production of Rossini’s Semiramide boasting a starry cast including Joyce DiDonato, Alex Esposito, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee.
By La Cieca
Joyce DiDonato’s atest album, In War & Peace: Harmony through music, is more specific than it sounds.
By Ali Kashani
“Grammy Award winner and international opera star Joyce DiDonato will perform on October 3 in White Rabbit Red Rabbit.”
By La Cieca
“The Met also said a new production of Bellini’s Norma with Anna Netrebko and Joyce DiDonato will open the 2017-18 season.”
By La Cieca
La Cieca finds it difficult to imagine any more offbeat casting than the sublime Joyce DiDonato as “The Worst Singer in the World.”
By La Cieca
The sound of Joyce DiDonato, Lawrence Brownlee and John Osborn nailing La Donna del Lago’s thrilling second-act trio alone made worthwhile enduring one of the ugliest, most bone-headed productions seen at the Metropolitan Opera in many a year.
“Joyce DiDonato and Rufus Wainwright will discuss a variety of topics…”
By La Cieca
Exclusively for you, the loyal parterriani, here’s a sneak preview video from Joyce and Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall.
By La Cieca
