"My Cinderella year" is the way Joyce DiDonato describes 2000-01, which saw her sing Rossini's La Cenerentola at New Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, Madrid's Teatro Real and La Scala. "Angelina's a great person to spend a year with. She's such a joy to sing, so strong, and so grounded by her belief that goodness will triumph. She's a calming influence, really -- very different from Rosina, who's almost spiteful and loves to shake things up." There's more Rossini on DiDonato's calendar, with Paris dates set for Angelina and Rosina and Barbieres scheduled in Houston, San Francisco and Tokyo. But this month the Kansas City, MO native turns her warm, expansive mezzo to Mozart, with a run as Dorabella in Washington Opera's Così Fan Tutte. "Some people dismiss Così as silly, but I think it is thrilling. From an acting standpoint, it's always fresh. The characters are distinct, complex people. Dorabella is earthier than her sister -- not earthy in that Carmen way, but youthful and impulsive and led by her heart rather than her head. Great energy, glorious music. The plot's a little off-putting, but how can anyone not love that music? The end of Act I? Sublime!"
DiDonato did a turn in another musical sister-act during her years as a member of the Houston Grand Opera studio, when she created the role of Meg March in Mark Adamo's 1997 opera, Little Women. For many, DiDonato's beautifully phrased performance of Meg's aria, "Things change," was the musical highlight of the opera, which was later revived as part of HGO's mainstage season and was telecast last month by PBS. "Little Women exceeded everyone's expectations. A new work is such a huge unknown, and all through rehearsal we were embedded in the difficulties of Mark's score, which were considerable. Then, at the dress, the audience loved it. And we were a hit!"
Besides opera, DiDonato has one other consuming passion. "It's baseball. I tell my agent that the only reason I signed with IMG is that they represent Derek Jeter. I keep hoping to meet him, but so far, nothing. My husband, Alex, roots for the Yankees, but I'm a diehard Royals fan. And we are having a terrible season right now. It's highly embarrassing."
F. PAUL DRISCOLL
PHOTOGRAPHED IN MADRID BY CARLOS MORALEDA STYLIST: FRAN CARRAÑAGA
MAKEUP AND HAIR: JORGE ALVAREZ
© QUEEN INTERNATIONALphoto: © Carlos Moraleda 2001
OPERA NEWS, September 2001 Copyright © 2001 The Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc.
SOUNDBITES
September 2001
Sound Bites: Joyce DiDonato