Joyce DiDonato - Yankeediva!

27th APRIL 2012 UPDATE

(originally published December 2011)

Joyce is currently appearing in Maria Stuarda at Houston Grand Opera in the title role, HGO have released a couple of stunning videos of her performance I have posted them below

By the way, Joyce is performing in this role at The Metropolitan Opera in New York at the beginning of 2013 - this will also be broadcast in cinemas around the world in HD and I can't wait to see it!

 

 

Overexuburance, hahaha, just have to add this exciting news -

Joyce's album Diva/Diva has been nominated today for a Grammy as has the

album of Vivaldi's Ercole on which she features!!!!

***LATEST***

JOYCE GOT HER GRAMMY FOR HER DIVA/DIVO ALBUM AND WALKED STRAIGHT INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS BY BECOMING THE FIRST CLASSICAL STAR TO PERFORM AT THE GRAMMYS

Here is her amazing performance at the Grammys

and then, gulp .... Joyce receiving her award and acceptance speech .... WOW!!!

The multi-faceted jewel that is Joyce DiDonato! Mezzo-soprano extraordinaire she never ceases to amaze me with the incredible beauty she emits with her singing, her amazing voice control, she simply has me in raptures watching and listening to her perform.

I first came across Joyce in the glorious, hilarious Met Live in HD production of Rossini's Le Comte Ory singing alongside the equally stunning Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Florez, such an enjoyable romp with fabulous singing and acting from all three stars, was in fact my first viewing of a mezzo in a trouser role, Joyce made an utterly gorgeous boy, lol!!!!

Just had to get some more of that voice, a little after that she released her Diva/Divo album which is wonderful, just had to have that as it includes her male and female roles, what a great mix! I'll let Joyce herself explain more and give a taste of this stunning album

Joyce being interviewed on BBC Breakfast just prior to the opening of the magical Massenet's Cendrillon at Royal Opera House in July this year

Only my second visit ever to The Royal Opera House and it's to see Joyce in Cendrillon - wooooohooooo - excited or what!!!! I was not disappointed, she looked and sounded magnificent, even though she had been suffering from some nasty bugs during her run in this production, I just sat open-mouthed all through, pure joy from start to finish and just adored her singing alongside that of Alice Coote, two mezzos singing together, just beautiful, I found their love duet just incredible. Go for it Joyce and Alice!!

amongst the rooftops of Paris Cendrillon and her Prince Charming sing a beautiful duet, even though they can't actually  "see" each other most of the time - aaaahhhh blissful stuff!!!!

Now just Joyce on her own, near the beginning of the opera

Not only was Cendrillon live in the opera house the night I went to see it, it was also being transmitted live to BP Big Screens in Trafalgar Square and other city venues around the country - what a fabulous treat!!

I just have to add this link to a lovely article featured in Opera News December 2011 about Joyce, very in-depth interview and the fabulous Joyce graces the cover
http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2011/12/Features/The_Sweet_Voice_of_Reason.html

and there's lots more of her inside in the article entitled The Sweet Voice of Reason -
Joyce DiDonato — probably the most in-demand lyric-coloratura mezzo in the world — has become a star by playing up, not down, to her audiences. She tells BRIAN KELLOW how proud she is of opera — and how proud she is to be an opera singer.




     

Going back just a little, although I wasn't into opera when this production of Don  Giovanni was made I was lucky enough to catch it on TV, it has an amazing cast, including Joyce DiDonato as Donna Elvira with baritone Simon Kennlyside as Don Giovanni (why are there so many lovely baritones around-I adore Simon) and I loved Kyle Ketelson as Leporello - but hey this is about Joyce and here she is

David Hockney : A Bigger Picture : Royal Academy of Art

23rd March 2012
(Exhibition continues until 9th April 2012)
No words can do full justice to the beautiful collection on  display here, it's not quite all about trees, but can safely say trees do dominate in the incredible landscapes/big pictures on offer - and I love that in the main it's the landscape that fills these big pictures and not oceans of sky, along with glorious, glorious mouthwatering use of colour, no reproduction, not even the fantastic book that accompanies the exhibition can really show just how great the pictures are - you must see it for yourself, I do hope that for those in other countries that this show will tour different parts of the world.

This Channel Four interview video gives a nice taste of the show - the fabulous still of the vid is of the iPad drawings of spring, fifty-one in all - it's an amazing room to be in and one that is hard to leave, very hard

The range of  media is phenomenal, from his photo collages of the eighties right through to his recent iPad drawings (my favourite room) and even film.

OK, as I already mentioned, words are really not enough, so will try to steal as many photos as I can to give a true feel of this stunning show, I list all the rooms/themes and guide you around giving a taste of my most favourite (in bold print) of the 13 rooms.

Thixendale Trees

This room contains both very large oil paintings, made up of a collection of canvases for each plus some of the sketches that went into the construction of these beautiful paintings of a stand of magnificent trees through the seasons - truly breathtaking

Earlier Lanscapes

First Yorkshire Landscapes

Watercolours and First Paintings From Observation

Tunnels



Woldgate Woods

More stunning trees, more fabulous big pictures and more stunning use of colour

Hawthorn Blossom

Deeeeeeeeeeeeelightful, what a fantastic subject - well for me anyway - I love hawthorn trees

Trees and Totems

The Arrival of Spring

My favourite room, although I think it may have to be joint favourite with Hawthorn Blossom - one painting and 51 iPad prints. This is a very large room and the walls are just filled with glorious colours depicting the arrival of spring, from January through to May we see the changes of season from winter through to spring on one small road in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, the changing hues in this beautifully presented .... well, it's just like a slideshow as you stand back and gaze around the room - this is just one of those incredible images

 the whole room presented like this small corner

and the opposite corner ...... awesome eh? do you wonder I could hardly tear myself away from this incredible scene

 and at the other end of the room, filling the wall is this painting made up of 32 different canvases

Sermon on the Mount

Film Work

Sketchbooks and iPads

Recent Work
 
Stunning iPad works feature in this room, mainly of Yosemite National Park. Almost floor to ceiling, they are breathtaking but sadly cannot find any photos of these.





The living, breathing English landscape, what a joyous experience to share in Hockney's beloved Yorkshire and beyond and marvel at, and to get to hug, well almost, the trees he so obviously adores.

So many people got to enjoy this, as I write many more are still enjoying this wonderful exhibition, sadly soon to close - but I must admit to being ecstatic at finding this exhibition is so popular. As usual I had to buy the book - paperback version (hardback also available, on Amazon too) - which is also stunning and a worthwhile investment if I may say so - it's packed with info and of course all the pictures which makes it an incredible heavy book but that will not deter me from picking it up ... frequently!!!

Introducing ...... Tenor Noah Stewart

First posted 21.12.2011 - updated and re-posted 1st April 2012 with new vids/info bottom of page

Looks fabulous doesn't he. This is exciting young American tenor Noah Stewart, I can't claim to know an awful lot about what he's been up to in his career so far - have just been following him on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/noahstewartmusic?ref=ts these last few months, he's been over here singing and recording in the UK performing with Opera North - appearing in their production of Madama Butterfly as Pinkerton no less (wish I could have seen that, bet he was incredible). Well Noah has been a real busy guy during his time over here, can hardly keep up with that he's been up to. Do ya wanna hear what he sounds like .... yep so do I

Well I dunno about you but that sounds a bit of all right to me - what am I talking about, that sounds more than a bit of alright, sounds fabulous -  think this new young tenor is a very exciting prospect. Ah yes, about that recording he's been doing, there's an album Noah by Noah coming out in February 2012 (update: album release date now revised to March 26th) and Noah will be returning to UK in 2012 I understand he is to appear in The Royal Opera House's new production Miss Fortune by Judith Weir in March, am very much hoping to go.

Noah Stewart's album Noah, due out in February 2012

Wanna hear a bit more of Noah, here he is singing The Star Spangled Banner at the start of the NFL at Wembley

And here's a bit more ....

Sounds fabulous doesn't he, I will be watching with interest as Noah's career develops, think we have another amazing tenor in the making here, sure there's so much more to learn about Noah Stewart so I guess the best place to go is the About section on his web page http://www.noahstewart.com/About.html

24th February 2012

Noah is well into rehearsals now for Miss Fortune by Judith Weir at Royal Opera House which opens on 12th March and here is a recent interview with him, he plays Hassan who owns a kebab stand, this should be an exciting new production

and catch up with his latest blog entry here-back in London and week, find out what he's up to
http://www.noahofficial.com/news/blog-week-one-in-london


With Noah's album Noah just released last week, here is his appearance on release day on QVC - stunning stunning stunning performance!!!!


Noah performing Without A Song from the album Noah -  WOW!!!

and now performing Hallelujah, what an incredible voice, awesome performance

well, based on that who can possibly resist the album currently riding high in the UK classic album charts. Congratulations Noah!!!!

Just have to add I was so so lucky, on 23rd March got to see him perform at Royal Opera House - his debut there in the opera Miss Fortune - you will not be surprised to hear he put in a fabulous performance as Hassan, just can't wait to see him back on that stage in future roles - he was made for that stage and other highly rated stages around the world. Mouthwateringly great, eagerly await more! Bravo!

Noah's web page is here http://www.noahstewart.com/Intro.html