I'll preface this post by saying that I'm a big fan of Joyce DiDonato, and in all reality, she probably could've cracked every single note, and I still would have loved every moment of this recital. Since I began listening to opera, DiDonato has been a singer I've enjoyed, and who I view as one of the most outstanding singers currently around.
This was my third attempt trying to see DiDonato. Back in 2018, when I was studying abroad, I bought a ticket to see her perform Maria Stuarda for one night in Paris. That time, she pulled out the night before due to illness, but was replaced by a wonderful Patrizia Ciofi. The second time I tried to see her was in Barcelona in 2020, for a planned performance of Semiramide. That time, my plans were ruined by Covid. This was my third attempt, and first success, to see Joyce, and the wait was more than worth it. I caught her while at the Berkeley stop of her tour.
The Setlist
Touring in support of her recent album 'Eden' this recital largely followed the same setlist of her album. When I know I'm going to see a certain performance or work, I make an effort to not know about the music, so that I can be surprised and experience the music fresh. Here, that was easy as the works are, for the most part, not part of the 'standard' operatic repertoire. What was presented was an interesting mix, bouncing back and forth between Modern, Baroque, and Late Romanticism. As one could probably imagine, 'Eden' is an exposition of nature, and what it means to experience and explore our world through music about the natural world. Each piece is a composer's exploration of nature, and our place within it.
The Orchestra
Led by Zafira Valova from First Violin, Il Pomo d'Oro sounded excellent. Known for their historically performed performances of Baroque and Classical music, the ensemble played with a freshness and flair that perfectly complimented DiDonato's own artistic sense. I found that their playing in the Baroque pieces was predictably excellent with a real sense of rhythm and fluidity that brings out the natural energy in the pieces. In the more modern pieces, the ensemble sounded, in my opinion, less sure of themselves, and the playing, while excellent, didn't reach the heights of their Baroque playing. Regardless of the era of music, they played wonderfully.
Joyce
DiDonato was, to say the least, amazing. In each piece, the intensity and focus of her performance was palpable with no piece feeling like a throwaway. DiDonato's voice is a truly magnificent instrument, and one that I could listen to for hours. In the past, I've seen criticism of her for her fast vibrato, and on recordings it's more noticeable than live. Her voice is a good size, easily soaring above the orchestra when she needed to, and the timbre is a lovely lyric mezzo voice. The sheer control she exhibits over her voice is astounding and no matter the dynamic, the speed, or the note, DiDonato sailed through each piece with bravura and sensitivity that you won't find in most other singers. Particular standouts for me were her performances of "Toglierò le sponde al mare" from Mysliveček's Adamo ed Eva, "As with Rosy Steps the Morn" from Handel's Theodora, and "The First Morning of the World" by Rachel Portman. Capped off with a beautiful performance of "Ombra mai fu," Eden was truly a magnificent experience exploring the natural world with DiDonato as our curator for the night.