Joyce DiDonato was simply magnificent last Wed, 25th May when she sang the title role in Handel’s Ariodante, an opera composed in 1735 for the Theatre Royal in London. Even though it was a concert performance, Ms DiDonato was in character from beginning to end, creating a very believable young prince Ariodante. Her singing was supreme and she brought the house down with her rendition of some of Handel’s most beautiful arias, which he created in this opera especially for the famous castrato Carestini.
Ms DiDonato is a wonderful generous artist who always gives her everything in any performance that she understakes. She told me once when I interviewed her: ”If you pay a lot of money to see me perform and I only give 80% effort, then you should get 20% of your money back!” I am absolutely sure that on Wednesday, no-one present at the Barbican wanted any of their money back! Ms DiDonato gave it all and exceeded expectations. She is undoubtedly a fabulous artist and a lovely person; to my mind, the ultimate opera singer!
Joyce DiDonato in Ariodante at the Grand Theatre de Geneve in 2007
Photo by Pierre Antoine Grisoni
The Ultimate Opera Singer!
Posted on: 05-31-2011 by: Margarida Mota-Bull
Joyce DiDonato was simply magnificent last Wed, 25th May when she sang the title role in Handel’s Ariodante, an opera composed in 1735 for the Theatre Royal in London. Even though it was a concert performance, Ms DiDonato was in character from beginning to end, creating a very believable young prince Ariodante. Her singing was supreme and she brought the house down with her rendition of some of Handel’s most beautiful arias, which he created in this opera especially for the famous castrato Carestini.
Ms DiDonato is a wonderful generous artist who always gives her everything in any performance that she understakes. She told me once when I interviewed her: ”If you pay a lot of money to see me perform and I only give 80% effort, then you should get 20% of your money back!” I am absolutely sure that on Wednesday, no-one present at the Barbican wanted any of their money back! Ms DiDonato gave it all and exceeded expectations. She is undoubtedly a fabulous artist and a lovely person; to my mind, the ultimate opera singer!
Joyce DiDonato in Ariodante at the Grand Theatre de Geneve in 2007
Photo by Pierre Antoine Grisoni
Categories: Baroque Composers, Comment/Opinion, Composers, Great Opera Composers, News, Personal Reviews Tags: Barbican, Bel Canto, Canto di Tenore, Classical music, Dark Side of Dawn, Germany, great composers, Joyce DiDonato, London, Mezzo, News, Opera, Recital, Time of the Furtive Moon