The sun shines out of Joyce DiDonato’s voice, and her ravishingly beautiful Elena caps the show with a sublime account of the lilting “Tanti affetti”. [...] The result was a stupendous display of belissimo canto.” ~ The Telegraph

Photo © Bill Cooper

“Trust me: London hasn’t heard such spectacular Rossini singing in decades [...] she does things at the soprano end of her voice that would terrify her peers. Most audaciously, in her exultant “Fra il padre”, she dropped to a pianissimo so hushed that, I swear, the entire house held its breath in wonder… before erupting at the curtain-call. Exhilarating.” ~ The Arts Desk

“As for DiDonato, words fail. No other singer could match what this blonde bombshell from Kansas does, marrying coloratura with the serene liquidity of birdsong to an expressiveness of heart-stopping beauty. Go, listen, and marvel.” ~ The Independent

“You would be mad not to queue from dawn to see this show.” ~ The Times

“The overall vocal line-up must rank amongst the very best ever witnessed at Covent Garden [...] SPELLBINDING” ~ Music OMH

“Best of all was Joyce DiDonato” ~ Evening Standard

“[...] we are in the presence of two supreme bel cantists who might have been made for each other, so perfectly do they meld.” ~ The Independent

“UNMISSABLE” ~ The Guardian

More reviews here

“Can [Rossini] ever have heard – or imagined – his music better sung than it was here? The sun shines out of Joyce DiDonato’s voice, and her ravishingly beautiful Elena caps the show with a sublime account of the lilting “Tanti affetti”. [...] The result was a stupendous display of belissimo canto.” ~ Rupert Christiansen The Telegraph May 2013

Photo © Bill Cooper

“Trust me: London hasn’t heard such spectacular Rossini singing in decades. Like the heroine of Rossini’s Cenerentola, another choice DiDonato role, Elena is a character who requires early sustained beauty of tone and increasing passion before letting rip with pyrotechnics in the finale. DiDonato’s technique is so flawless that she can take immense, thrilling risks. She’s supposedly a mezzo, but she does things at the soprano end of her voice that would terrify her peers. Most audaciously, in her exultant “Fra il padre”, she dropped to a pianissimo so hushed that, I swear, the entire house held its breath in wonder… before erupting at the curtain-call. Exhilarating.” ~ David Benedict Arts Desk May 2013

“You would be mad not to queue from dawn to see this show. As the fought-over Elena, Joyce DiDonato is feisty, fearless and mesmerising. Her dazzling final aria brought the house down.” ~ Richard Morrison The Times May 2013

“The overall vocal line-up must rank amongst the very best ever witnessed at Covent Garden. DiDonato performs at the height of her game with thrilling singing that demonstrates a wide range, brilliant sensitivity and dynamic variation, and an exquisite mastery of phrasing. The final scene proves the most captivating of experiences. DiDonato’s performance of ‘Tanti affetti’ is spellbinding.” ~ Sam Smith Music OMH May 2013

“The opening duet between Juan Diego Florez (as the king) and Joyce DiDonato (Elena) serves notice that we are in the presence of two supreme bel cantists who might have been made for each other, so perfectly do they meld.” ~ Michael Church The Independent May 2013

Photo © Bill Cooper

“Best of all was Joyce DiDonato, who brought to the role of Elena, the eponymous Lady of the Lake, dazzling coloratura.” ~ Barry Millington Evening Standard May 2013

“In this showpiece [Tanti Affetti]DiDonato’s incredible pianissimos had the entire House holding its breath. Her terrific coloratura seemed effortless and what trills! The pastoral beauty of her early cavatina ‘O, mattutini albori’ was simply enchanting.” ~ Mark Pullinger Opera Britannia May 2013

“Musically [...] it’s superlative. DiDonato, all ecstatic coloratura and floated high notes, is mesmerising [...] It’s unmissable.” ~ Tim Ashley The Guardian May 2013

The album, released September 2, will celebrate 10 years of acclaimed recordings with Virgin and EMI Classics

“DiDonato’s feat is that she makes us believe. And that’s as great a gift as her voice.”

~ NPR Music

Wednesday, May 15^th, 2013 – New York – Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has launched a new campaign urging her fans to help crowdsource various elements of her upcoming ‘Best of’ album, which will celebrate 10 years of recordings with Virgin and EMI Classics. The #JoyceAndMe crowdsourcing campaign will last from May 15^th until July 1^st, giving fans a chance to help Joyce determine the album title, musical contents and parts of the liner notes. The album will be released worldwide September 2^nd (September 3^rd in the U.S.) to coincide with Joyce’s highly-anticipated performance at the Last Night of the BBC Proms.

The four parts of the crowdsourcing campaign, to be conducted across Joyce’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, will invite fans to submit their ideas for an album title (May 15-21), vote on their favorite title (May 22-27), suggest which of Joyce’s recordings they would like to see on the album (May 29-June 4), and share photos and stories about Joyce’s concerts and recordings, some of which will be included in the album liner notes (June 10-25). The campaign will end July 1^st, when Joyce will give her fans the first look at the album cover.

Joyce is an exclusive Virgin/EMI Classics recording artist, and has recorded five acclaimed recital albums (including the Grammy™-award winning Diva, Divo and last year’s Drama Queens), five complete operas and two concert recordings. She was also featured on conductor/arranger John Wilson’s chart-topping Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies, as well as Emmanuelle Haïm’s Lamenti project.

Joyce’s Facebook Page

Joyce’s Twitter Feed

Joyce’s YouTube Channel