GRAMOPHONE LAUNCHES ITS INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Conductors Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Leonard Bernstein
and soprano Maria Callas head the list

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For her first performance in the Kauffman Center, vocalist Joyce DiDonato will evoke Joan of Arc and Sister Helen Prejean.

Joyce DiDonato is soaring.

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It is with great regret that Joyce DiDonato must cancel her upcoming tour of Ariodante with her long time collaborator, Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco, March 4 – 17.  Due to a minor, but necessary medical reason, she is following her Doctor’s orders to cancel the European travel and tour.  Joyce looks forward to returning to the stage later in March in a series of concerts with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, and thank her fans for their understanding in making this very difficult decision.

At the 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards last night, EMI/Virgin Classics exclusive artist Joyce DiDonato won in the Classical Vocal Solo category for her album Diva Divo.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Kansas City-born mezzo-soprano became the first ever classical singer to perform at the GRAMMYs® with a rousing rendition of Rossini’s “Non più mesta” from Diva, Divo which brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.

“Thank you for letting an opera girl come into this,” Joyce said in her acceptance speech. She also rallied the crowd by urging people to support arts education, saying how “there’s a war on in our country against the arts right now…we need more musicians in our lives.”

Diva, Divo is an album which celebrates the rich variety of the mezzo-soprano voice, including a selection of arias for both male and female characters which perfectly showcase DiDonato’s extraordinary instrument.

Nominated for 2 Grammys this year, Joyce will perform “Non più mesta” for the Pre-Televised Ceremony, streamed live to an international audience.  Tune in Sunday, February 12 at 1:00 PT/4:00 EST on www.grammy.com/live to watch the entire Ceremony.

“As he has done for singers throughout his career, Heggie has made the cycle a glowing showcase for the vocalist. The writing for quartet — filled with insinuating themes and deft harmonies — sets the stage, but never intrudes. And the vocal parts are brilliant: spare and pristine in several settings, luxuriantly ornamented in others. This is a work that sings, ardently, melodically, and dramatically. [...] DiDonato proved an ideal interpreter.” ~ San Francisco Classical Voice

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