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Album Summary
Performer
Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
Notes & Reviews:
Grammy® Award winner Joyce DiDonato joins conductor Alan Curtis and Il complesso barocco for Drama Queens, an electrifying program of royal arias the 1rom 7th and 18th centuries, composed by figures as famous as Handel and Vivaldi and as little known as Orlandini and Porta.
The impact achieved by Joyce DiDonato with her last Virgin Classics Album Diva, Divo, was summed up by her triumph at the 2012 Grammy® Awards in February: victor in the Classical Vocal Solo category, the 'Yankee Diva' gave a rare classical performance at the Grammy pre-telecast, receiving a standing ovation for her spectacular rendition of the final rondo from Rossini's La Cenerentola.
Innovative as ever, DiDonato now presents a new themed recital, conceived in partnership with Alan Curtis. Drama Queens sees DiDonato portraying a parade of royal personages in a diversity of challenging situations and extreme states of mind. "For me, this is my most exciting recording project to date," says Joyce DiDonato, "because it is everything I deeply adore about the world of opera: high drama, profound emotion, fearless vocal writing, time-stopping passages, historical significance and real discovery. What more could I ask for?"
On November 18, Joyce DiDonato will be performing the album repertoire at Carnegie Hall with the support of Il Complesso Barocco. Fresh from her triumph in the Met's The Enchanted Island, Joyce takes on the virtuosic bel canto role of the doom Mary, Queen of Scots in the new production of Maria Stuarda set to debut on December 31 at the Met's New Year's Eve Gala.
The Times, November 2012
Coloratura runs are lightning fast, angry declamations hurled like thunderbolts - and limpid laments meltingly cooed. I don't like DiDonato when she gets too shouty or adds "expressive" pitch-bends. But it's all compellingly theatrical. Great choice, too, with familiar Handel mingled with rare jewels.
ClassicsToday.com
Why describing what goes on here? Alan Curtis has found a "drama queen" (in the best sense) so stupendous that he and his Complesso Barocco seem to be following her every mood with sharp attacks, rapid-fire playing and, when called for, tender, sensitive longing. Sonics are ideal - spotless and natural. This is simply glorious.
Recording information: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012).
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Works Details
Orlandini, Giuseppe Maria : Berenice :: Da torbida procella - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 6 min. 5 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1725
Porta, Giovanni : Ifigenia in Aulide :: Madre diletta, abbracciami - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 7 min. 38 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1738
Handel, George Frideric : Alcina :: Ma quando tornerai - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 4 min. 9 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1735
Keiser, Reinhard : Fredegunda :: Lasciami piangere - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 5 min. 14 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
Hasse, Johann Adolf : Antonio e Cleopatra :: Morte col fiero aspetto - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 4 min. 8 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: 1725
Handel, George Frideric : Giulio Cesare in Egitto :: E pur così in un giorno - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 6 min. 45 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1724
Cesti, Antonio : Orontea :: Intorno all'idol mio - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 6 min. 54 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1649
Handel, George Frideric : Alessandro :: Brilla nell'alma - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 5 min. 55 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1726
Keiser, Reinhard : Octavia :: Geloso sospetto - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 7 min. 33 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
Monteverdi, Claudio : L' incoronazione di Poppea :: Disprezzata regina - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 6 min. 4 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1642
Giacomelli, Geminiano : Merope :: Sposa, son disprezzata - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 8 min. 47 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1734
Orlandini, Giuseppe Maria : Berenice :: Col versar, barbaro, il sangue - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 3 min. 40 sec.
- Period Time: Baroque
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1725
Haydn, Franz Joseph : Armida :: Vedi, se t'amo... Odio, furor, dispetto - Performer: Joyce DiDonato (Mezzo Soprano)
- Conductor: Alan Curtis
- Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco
- Notes: Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Italy (07/16/2012-07/22/2012)
- Running Time: 4 min. 17 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1783
