THE BARBICAN CENTRE 6th February 2013
Time to dust off the blog for this long-awaited date in my diary and I make no apologies for all the gushing that follows!!!
Joyce DiDonato, the ultimate Drama Queen arrives in London for a major gig at The Barbican as part of her Drama Queens tour and I'm so stoked/excited having owned the wonderful Drama Queens album of hers since it was released last year I can't wait to see her perform this live!! If you don't have the album and want to give your ears their best ever treat, then do not hesitate to get it! Not attempting a major review here just haaave to unleash some of the excitement from this amazing concert, will post some lovely review links later! Promise!
Hot, and I really mean seriously HOT from her stunning Met Opera appearance in the title role in the fabulous Maria Stuarda/Donizetti Joyce resumes her Drama Queens tour accompanied by Il Complesso Baroque. Joyce arrives on stage to rapturous applause in her stunning Vivienne Westwood red frock (dress stage 1) and we are treated to a beautiful but sombre starter with 'Intorno all'idol mio' but you just know that the main course and dessert to come is going to, and does consist of Joyce's fullsome and delicious vocal range taking us from the highest highs to the softest lows and everything, just everything in between, a truly phenomenal vocal range, Joyce's vocal gymnastics are truly awesome and on this night she does not disappoint.
Joyce departs to leave Il Complesso Baroque centre stage to perform the first of their musical interludes and give us a taster of their incredible musicality, but it is their second offering, of Vivaldi's Concerto for violin and strings RV 242 which totally blows me away, they are an incredible ensemble and have to say I would definitely seek them out to see them play alone. What a total joy it was to enjoy their pieces alone and accompanying Joyce! It just doesn't get any better than this, truly.
During 'Da torbida procella' (this has to be one of my fave moments) Joyce is now seriously rocking along to the music and I confess I find tears are spilling down the side of my face, tears of pure unbridled enjoyment, I am loving this so much I can't help myself.
An interval, after totally blowing us away, we get to reflect on how amazing the first part has been already and return eagerly for yet more sumptuous delights, vocal ornamentations to die for plus THE DRESS has been transformed to it's full-blown beauty (dress stage 2) with sleeve attachments 'n all, WOW, Joyce gives us a twirl and the dress gets wild applause!
What an evening which culminates with three encores and three standing ovations from an audience well and truly charmed and elated from the magic that is Joyce DiDonato, I can honestly say I have never been to a concert of any kind that has left me and such a massive high and that high remains two days later as I write this and doesn't look like going away any time soon.
I could not help but reflect on the train on the way home at Joyce's words explaining how she and Alan Curtis delved into the depths of lost works and came up with the wonderful selection featured in the concert and Drama Queens album and how thankful I felt that they did this and brought this amazing collection to so many, also feeling somewhat sorry for anyone, just anyone and everyone in the world who has not or will not get the chance to experience this amazing concert tour, I feel so very privileged to have had the chance to witness something so very special. Grateful thanks to Joyce and the incredible Il Complesso Baroque for a memory I shall always treasure.
The Program
Cesti ‘Intorno all'idol mio’ from Orontea
Scarlatti Sinfonia from Tolomeo ed Alessandro
Monteverdi ‘Disprezzata regina’ from L’Incoronazione di Poppea
Giacomelli ‘Sposa, son disprezzata’ from Merope
Vivaldi Concerto for violin and strings RV 242 “per Pisendel”
Orlandini ‘Da torbida procella’ from Berenice
Hasse ‘Morte col fiero aspetto’ from Antonio e Cleopatra
Handel ‘Piangerò la sorte mia’ from Giulio Cesare
Handel Passacaglia from Radamisto
Porta ‘Madre diletta, abbracciami’ from Ifigenia in Aulide
Gluck Ballet music from Armide
Handel ‘Brilla nell'alma’ from Alessandro
Encores
Keiser Lasciami Piangere
Orlandini Col versar, barbaro, il sangue
Handel Brilla nell'alma (reprise)
LINKS TO LOVELY REVIEWS OF THIS CONCERT, as promised
first up a wonderful five-stars from Opera Brittania
http://www.opera-britannia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=857:joyce-didonato-drama-queens&catid=10:concert-and-recital-reviews&Itemid=16
I love this blog piece too!
http://dolcesuono.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/joyce-didonato-drama-queens-concert/
they both do it so much better than I ever could!!
