Joyce DiDonato Drama Queens

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!!

Nixon In China : John Adams : BBC Proms

Wednesday 5th September
(a little bit of catch-up from a busy summer)

• John Adams

  Nixon in China

• Kathleen Kim soprano (Madame Mao)
• Alan Oke tenor (Chairman Mao)
• Gerald Finley bass-baritone (Chou En-Lai)
• Robert Orth baritone (President Nixon)
• Jessica Rivera soprano (Pat Nixon)
• James Rutherford bass-baritone, New Generation Artist (Kissinger)
• Stephanie Marshall mezzo-soprano (Secretary)
• Louise Poole mezzo-soprano (Secretary)
• Susan Platts mezzo-soprano (Secretary)
• BBC Singers
• BBC Symphony Orchestra
• John Adams conductor
• Paul Curran stage director

Standing in the Royal Albert Hall Arena for the first time, up real close to the front - well I did arrive nice and early and very excited for my first go at being a proper Prommer! Also very excited too knowing that both Gerald Finley and Kathleen Kim are in the cast for this concert format performance of Nixon in China.

I have previously seen this John Adams opera on TV in The Metropolitan Opera's production, also featuring Kathleen Kim as Madam Mao, who was fantastic, the production itself left me rather underwhelmed but felt an opportunity to view this in concert format was not to be missed as I was sure there was much to appreciate here that I had missed. So glad I took this opportunity as I was totally blown away! The whole cast were fantastic, Kathleen Kim was awesome as Madam Mao-a stellar performance, and it was an incredible experience for me to find myself so close to the stage to watch her perform, in particular the aria "I am the wife of Mao Tse-Tung" Woooohooooo, what a performance! Incredible! Gerald Finley was incredible also, as were Jessica Rivera-a lovely Pat Nixon, Robert Orth and Alan Oke.

I have quickly grown to rate very highly operas I have seen done in concert format, much easier to appreciate both the music and singing performances without the distractions of scenery, especially the music and here I must say how much I loved the music of John Adams here-spine tingling-which I must confess was totally lost on me watching The Met production, and what a bonus to have Adams himself conducting. I found myself equally stunned and delighted that there were so many youngsters in the audience around me enjoying everything as much as I was, and obviously much more knowledgeable of John Adams' work than I - lovely to see! Came away from this easily high as a kite as I do when attending any of the older, classic operas that I also love......

..... just as a footnote, I must add that I do love modern operas such as this, a wonderful way to convey epic moments of modern history as I also found with Adam's Dr Atomic. More of the wonderful diversity that is opera, I find myself enjoying this easily as much as I do Mozart or Handel, Rossini or Verdi, Wagner or Strauss, Puccini or Berlioz. Ain't opera just wunnerful!! A fantastic experience and Kathleen Kim's Madam Mao will remain as a very special memory I shall treasure.

Also just to add that I atteneded the pre-concert talk across the road at the Royal College of Music which gave a great insight into China's political situation at the time of Nixons visit. As I write this it is still available to listen on this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b01mf8c3 with writer and broadcaster Rana Mitter and journalist Shuyun Sun-was very keen to hear her speak as I remember her as a producer on the magnificent BBC series A Year In Tibet and she also wrote the fascinating book which accomanied this series. Very enjoyable and informative talk.

Some background and synopsis for Nixon In China available here on Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixon_in_China_(opera)

Catch-up time!! ..... hopefully

London Olympic/Paralympic stadium
 

It may appear that I have been doing little over the summer but the opposite is strangely true. Feet seemed to hardly touch the ground so have had very little time to collect my thoughts and blog.

What an amazing summer that was, too many distractions, starting early on with the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, The BBC Proms, The Olympics and Paralympics have all taken up a considerable amount of time but now I wish to catch up writing about the many memorable experiences of this glorious summer before we get too far into the new opera/concert season ahead, so many beautiful things I wish to capture and share the memories so will be attempting to do so over the coming weeks starting with the unforgettable recital at Wigmore Hall London with the awesome Joyce DiDonato/David Zobel!
http://annez-reflectionz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/joyce-didonato-wigmore-hall-london.html

Royal Albert Hall - Home of BBC Proms
 

Joyce DiDonato : Wigmore Hall London

6th July 2012

When my very favourite singer is appearing in London, Wigmore Hall no less, don't I just have to be there!!!

So unbelievably excited to be getting the chance to hear Joyce sing in this amazing setting, and so lucky to have managed to get a ticket! As Joyce appears on stage, all smiles, with her lovely accompanist on piano, David Zobel, I know we are in for an amazing recital as she is to take us with her on a tour of Venice in song.

A lovely quip in response to the applause that greets her on stage "You're all just excited cos Andy Murray won" Andy Murray did win his match at Wimbledon today-but no Joyce, we're all so very excited in the expectation of what lies ahead. BBC Radio 3 microphones are here too so it's great to know so many others who cannot be here get to enjoy this recital as well, I am sure many of her devoted fans from around the globe will be listening in.

Joyce opens the recital with two lovely arias by the Venetian Vivaldi from Ercole sul Termodonte, beautifully sung and then immediately, having already captured her audience with those Vivaldi arias, leads us right on with Cinq Melodies de Venise by Faure, perhaps more sentiments - and beautiful, soulful sentiments they are, of love and rapture - of Venice and what it should be, but painting a beautiful mood setting for our eventual arrival in that great city. We cannot doubt now that we have arrived at our destination as Joyce, our tour leader, takes us into Rossini and all the sights and sounds of La Regata Veneziana as we are taken along with Anzoleta as she cheers on her lover Momolo in his gondola race, Joyce's wonderful, humourous character portrayal of this young girl, her singing is just sublime as she delivers these three songs we are right there beside the overly-excited Anzoleta. As rapturous applause rings out, ugh, what, we have to have an interval now, OK if we muuuuuuuuuuuuust, LOL!!

We resume on a more sombre but still delightful note starting, with Schubert's Gondelfahrer (Gondolier) followed by Two Lieder, Venetian airs of Schumann from Myrten to further transport us into the romance that is Venice. I don't want this to end I am so deeply immersed. Joyce moves on now to Three Songs of Venice by Michael Head and then Five Songs from Venezia by Reynaldo Hahn, these are truly beautiful as they speak of love and laughter, along with the torment of a (so-called one suspects) love now faded in What A Shame!, and the last song Spring "just one more month and the nightingale's song will pour it's honey on my soul" - just WOW!! So stunningly beautiful, I'm reduced to tears-all is good! What a wonderful recital, such an incredible program and thankfully all is not quite over yet as more rapturous applause brings back Joyce and David to the stage for encores.

I leave Wigmore Hall on Cloud 9 - at least, my feet, did they touch the ground, I think not, not for days and days after as I re-lived this amazing shared experience that is Joyce and the warmth with which she enfolds her audience and takes them happily, joyfully with her! Come back to Wigmore Hall soon please Joyce, and thank you for all the tears and laughter and the total warmth and joy you bring to your audience!!!

Am now looking forward very, very excitedly to the release of  Joyce's album Drama Queens, I just know this will be stunning-take a look at this, if this isn't enough to get excited about I don't know what is!!

Also excited that Joyce will be performing from this album at The Barbican, London next February - not to be missed!!

A little way prior to the Barbican recital, in January 2013 Joyce is appearing at The Metropolitan Opera in Maria Stuarda in the title role, here's a small taste of her performing Maria Stuarda at Houston Grand Opera earlier this year - WOW!

Joyce will also be appearing at The Royal Opera House May/June 2013 in Rossini's La Donna del Lago, I am so very excited about this as I know she will be amazing!!! Here's a little scrumptious taste of what to expect.

Damon Albarn - Opera

For those of us who enjoyed the opera Dr Dee at English National Opera http://annez-reflectionz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/dr-dee-eno-damon-albarn.html, some exciting news, Damon Albarn wants to write another opera!! More here at NME

http://www.nme.com/news/damon-albarn/66441

Dr Dee : ENO : Damon Albarn

Friday 29th June 2012

John Dee                        Paul Hilton
Katherine Dee               Anna Dennis
Kelley                              Christopher Robson
Walsingham                  Steven Page
Elizabeth                         Melanie Pappenheim
Young Dee                      Rebecca Sutherland
Young Katherine             Victoria Couper
Jane                                 Clemmie Sveaas

(OK, I'm very late, breathlessly trying to catch up - too many distractions going on but this was too good to forget!!!)
Seems like almost a lifetime ago I booked my ticket for Dr Dee having been seriously kicking myself that I missed out on Damon Albarn's first venture into opera with Monkey: Journey to The West, I was not going to miss another opportunity in this collaboration with Rufus Norris producing. I was not alone, a Gorillaz fan I found myself sitting beside an equally excited Blur fan who had purchased his ticket around same time as me, comparing notes at interval and at the end we both went away well impressed with what we had seen and wanting more.

A bit of background here with Damon Albarn and others collaborating in the production talking around the time of the 2011 opening

Having never heard of John Dee until the opera first emerged as part of Manchester's 2011 Festival I was fascinated by what I was hearing about this amazing man, an alchemist, who lived at the time of Queen Elizabeth I and was held in high regard by Elizabeth herself.

We start with a raven,  flying out from one of the unoccupied boxes on to the stage above the on-stage musicians - the orchestra itself being seated in the usual orchestra pit. Now I must describe the area in which these on-stage musicians occupy, in short it looks something like a wooden veranda that has become detached from a house, a stage within  stage, the musicians sitting inside, to the left hand side there are a few steps that descend to the stage, here sits Damon Albarn with his guitar-the raven lands on the roof. At present this stage within a stage is occupying the full lower third of the stage. The music begins and Damon Albarn sings the first song of the opera, Apple Carts which has a haunting folk-like quality to it.

As he sings various characters, one at a time begin to walk on from stage left atop this veranda. Firstly a punk rocker with bright pink hair, followed by a city gent, then cricketer W G Grace, a suffragette .... aha, we are going back in time with Nelson, Charles I, this is England, our England. As each of the characters walks across the roof of this 'veranda', they walk to the back, position themselves facing forward each in turn then leans back and plunges off the back of the stage as the next character then appears - great hilarity all round at this! After the last character has gone off the back the veranda itself starts to slowly rise above the stage and from beneath appears a dying, elderly John Dee in his sick bed which is pushed by his loving daughter Katherine who perambulates around the stage with her father's deathbed - we then go a bit further back in time as from underneath this bed a short while after we see emerge a young John Dee as the older Dee and his daughter leave the stage.

The young Dee (Rebecca Sutherland) hungry for knowledge

Books, the theme now is books as we start to now move forward in time as the young Dee is surrounded by books of ever-increasing size as he grows up - the books take on almost the style of Elizabethan ruff collars and to my mind are portraying the young Dee thirst for knowledge and learning, moving forward through time now we see Dee was growing up with, through his father's association, close links to the court of Queen Elizabeth. The books increase in size as Dee grows older, actors, one at each end rush across the stage with the very largest man-size books, all the time Dee is ensconced in reading and learning, oh yes we see John Dee is very hungry for knowledge.

Now at the court Dee he is consulted by the Queen's secretary, Walsingham to discern a fitting and auspicious date for the Queen's coronation, consulting the stars a date is set and Dee also finds himself a wife, Jane. Into his life also comes the mysterious Kelley (a countertenor, woweeee, I've been developing a thing for coutertenors these last few months!).

A fabulous part of the visuals for this production are the video projections we see, as pictured here below - characters and symbols display on screen - when depicting the strange project Dee and Kelley set themselves to discover the language of angels, Enochian, consorting with both angels and maybe demons too in their somewhat dubious quest -  charlatans I would dub the both of them, or Dee duped by Kelley - eh - which? Must do more reading/investigating of Dee's life, appetite well and truly whetted by this venture.  This wonderful opera - yes I found it rather wonderful, or wondrous even, magical, mystical - is a great way to tell a story of a fascinating character in our history, here is Damon Albarn saying, hey take a look at this guy, setting it to music-wonderful range of musical styles - and song, the singing of the characters and Damon Albarn himself as he sets the scene of England at the time and narrates the story as we go, combined with the previously mentioned video projections all combine to create an immensely moving portrayal of John Dee.

Video display for the scene in which Dee and Kelley attempt to discover the language of angels

Duped he must have been to some degree by Kelley as he convinces Dee that an angel has told him he must be allowed to share Dee's wife - mega duped I would say! From rising star at the court we share in many of the highs and lows of Dee's life as he becomes ostracised by the mighty and powerful of the day we return to where we found him at the start, dying, as the veranda lowers back to the stage and Damon Albarn steps onto the stage at Dee's death.



I enjoyed this immensely for what was produced, a delightful production - no sense in stopping to linger on what it could or should have been, I was thoroughly entertained and entranced by what I saw and am now hoping that further opportunities to re-visit this will present themselves in the future, I would definitely go see it again but with the busy butterfly-like life Damon Albarn leads I think he will perhaps wish to move on from Dee and it would not be the same without him, although I do hope that he will make a return to the world of opera at some point in the future and am sure he will have something else just as fascinating for us.

Anthony Roth Costanzo : Operalia 2012 : Beijing

10th June 2012 - Opera

Anthony Roth Costanzo - First Prize Men's Operalia

Congratulations Anthony Roth Costanzo

Just wanted to record (OK jump up and down with excitement) the news from Beijing that American countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo is a winner in the men's competition. I was delighted to hear that he had reached the finals having seen him earlier this year for the first time in The Metropolitan Opera's The Enchanted Island Live in HD (reviewed here http://annez-reflectionz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/enchanted-island-met-opera-live-in-hd.html  ) broadcast, singing the part of Ferdinand. I was at the time developing a real "thing" for the countertenor voice - am now a fully-fledged countertenor fan - so am truly over the moon now to see a countertenor walking away with first prize at this competition. Anthony shares the award with Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin, each gaining the same number of points from the judges. American tenor Brian Jagde also put in a very impressive performance as did Chinese baritone Yunpeng Wang and both shared second place in the men's competition.

Video clip showing Anthony singing "Stille amare" from Handel's opera Tolomeo in the competition final - no wonder the judges could not resist him!

I would also like to give a shout to American soprano Janai Brugger took first place the ladies part in this competition, well-deserved, I loved her performance.