Photo by Brooke Shaden
Kansas City-born mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has soared to the top of her industry both as a performer and a fierce advocate for the arts, gaining international prominence in operas by Handel and Mozart, as well as in the bel canto roles of Rossini and Donizetti. The Financial Times raved that her recent performance as Elena in La donna del Lago was “simply the best singing I’ve heard in years,” and the London Times has described her voice as “nothing less than 24-carat gold.” Her wide-ranging discography has also garnered international acclaim and multiple GRAMMY Awards, including the 2016 honor for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album and the 2012 award for Best Classical Vocal Solo.
Much in demand on the concert and recital circuit, DiDonato has recently held residencies at Carnegie Hall and at London’s Barbican Centre, has toured extensively in South America, Europe and Asia, and has appeared as guest soloist at the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms. Recent highlights include the title role in Maria Stuarda at the Metropolitan Opera, for The Royal Opera and at the Liceu in Barcelona; the title role in Alcina on tour with the English Concert and Harry Bicket; and Marguerite in La damnation de Faust with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle. In 2015-16 she performed as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with The Royal Opera, made her debut as Charlotte in Werther for The Royal Opera, held the role of Arden Scott in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Great Scott at the Dallas Opera, and returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Elena in La donna del lago.
DiDonato records exclusively for Erato/Warner Classics. Her recording Tony & Joyce Live at Wigmore Hall was selected as “le choix de France Musique” in addition to winning a 2016 GRAMMY Award. Other recordings include Stella di Napoli, a sumptuous bel canto banquet including little-known gems alongside music by Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti. Her GRAMMY-winning recording Diva Divo comprises arias by male and female characters, celebrating the rich dramatic world of the mezzo-soprano. Her project Drama Queens was exceptionally well received, both on disc and on several international tours. She released a retrospective of her first ten years of recordings, ReJoyce!, in 2013.
Other honors include the Gramophone Artist of the Year and Recital of the Year awards, three German Echo Klassik Awards as Female Singer of the Year, and induction into the Gramophone Hall of Fame.