HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Classical music
Feb. 3, 2006, 11:25AM
Queen of the ball
By CHARLES WARDCopyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
In the seven and a half years since Joyce DiDonato left HGO's studio for young artists, she's conquered the opera world.
Her Christmas 2005 performances of Rosina, in the Royal Opera's new production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville, prompted a critic in London's Times to gush about the "mesmerizing performance by DiDonato, who flaunts spectacular technique in Rosina's quicksilver runs, along with a luscious tone and a ditsy personality that is a bit Lucille Ball in places, but never cloying."
Of her Metropolitan Opera debut two months earlier in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, the New York Times' Jeremy Eichler commented, "Joyce DiDonato made a strong Metropolitan debut as Cherubino, hopelessly entranced by all things feminine yet sincere and moving in Voi che sapete."
One sign of her coming of age in the biggest leagues of opera was the cover story in the December issue of Opera, the leading British magazine. Stephen Hastings wrote that he first heard DiDonato in a major role, her "breathtaking purity of tone, line and diction, combined with exquisite musical instincts and an instantly engaging stage presence, created an almost epiphany-life effect."
Her portrayal of her signature role Angelina/Cinderella in La Cenerentola at Milan's La Scala in July 2005 had a similar impact: "She recaptured the pathos of Rossini's most touching heroine in a manner reminiscent of her great predecessor in the role, Frederica von Stade."
The last mezzo to sing Angelina in Houston was Cecilia Bartoli (in 1995). Her characterization is much different from DiDonato's, Hastings noted. Bartoli's widely performed "radical re-reading" turned "the day-dreaming and downtrodden Angelina into a much savvier character whose finale Rondo emerges as a triumph of self-confidence virtuosity rather than 'bonita' (goodness)."
For DiDonato, the last piece is deeper and subtler: "It's a liberating moment because Angelina finally gets the chance to speak freely without anyone shutting her up. She sings tentatively at first, as if seeking the right words to express her feelings, but those feelings are sincere and moving."
Now, DiDonato brings her Cinderella to Houston as part of HGO's 2006-07 season. To celebrate her return, she'll have the season's only new production.
HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Classical music
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