Una voce poco fa - Barber Contest - Joyce DiDonato

[FrankJared]

5/5+

[clnrch]

I think 33bluberries should post a video of her singing something. She rocks...period.

[33blueberries]

You deleted the post that I was going to reply to. DiDonato is my favourite mezzo-soprano working at the moment. I enjoy everything I've heard her sing. There are flaws, but obviously you don't want to hear about them (and maybe learn a bit more about how the operatic singing voice works), so I won't restate them here. If you're happy simplifying things to "she rocks," that's great, I wish you all the happiness in the world.

[Preschott]

5/4

[in2whitwhitwhit]

this is a contest? in that case, excuse me but Joyce WINS.

5/5

[2ndviolinist]

3/2

[noncondition]

Again, a Joyce's jewel. 4/4 out of 5.

[searnold56]

i think suzanne mentzer belongs in the runnings here

[JRZGRL55]

Joyce is a work in progress. She has more raw talent than about 90% of today's singers IF YOU COMBINED THEM INTO ONE PERSON. This is an old video. Check out her singing on a recently released production of Handel's "Floridante". She is singing more "on breath" and using her diaphragm much more than she did in this video. No, she's not "perfect" but who is. In my book, for what it's worth, she's probably in the top 3 mezzos singing today - and we can debate who the other 2 are.

[jetsetjordan]

5/5

[patukott]

Brava, Joyce (and isn't she a good actress:)?), but why that silly costume ?

[trimhatchextrude]

I absolutely agree with 33blueberries. It's way too forced.

[33blueberries]

It's just not floated as well as it could be. I still enjoy her singing, and the Barbiere that was broadcast from the Met was really enjoyable, but I think if she'd float the head voice a bit more, she'd be adding five years on to her career, and extending her repertoire too.

[raigekimaru]

I'm confused, "floating the head voice" that sounds like something you would do in choir, I don't see how it would help her singing.

[MrGary66]

Well I witnessed her performance from a wheelchair and She was absolutely brilliant

[clnrch]

33blueberries, get a clue-her colartura rivals Cecilia Bartoli's and everything else you said is mental technical masturbation. The Met doesn't hire just anyone. Brilliant singer.

[33blueberries]

..uh..if the best example of coloratura singing you can come up with is Cecilia Bartoli..I don't even know how to finish that sentence! Please, for my sake, listen to Gruberova, Sutherland, Galli-Curci, Melba, Tetrazzini. There are reasons these records have lasted as long as they have!!

[33blueberries]

As for whom the Met hires, well, they seem to continually hire Danielle de Niese, so clearly someone upstairs doesn't have a clue..

That is an overexaggeration, but the situation is thus: the Met will hire whomsoever will bring in the crowds and the dollars, good singing be damned. Joyce is, I am more than happy to admit, a damn sight better than most. But she has her flaws, which I am also only too happy to point out. You like her, great, but she is not perfect.

[classicalgal14]

I agree only on Danielle de Niese that girl sucks ass, but Joyce kicks ass she is amazing okay!  get over it!

[33blueberries]

Man, I've got to stop replying to these posts...

Look, Joyce DiDonato is, in my opinion, the best younger mezzo-soprano working at the moment of whom I am aware. People talk to me of Kirschlager or that daft English bird who sand Dido with ROH earlier this year, but frankly, none of them can hold a candle to DiDonato. But, she is not perfect, her way of singing is not perfect, and, for example, the young Agnes Baltsa would mop the floor with her. It's a matter of perspective.

[33blueberries]

Hmm. Someone else from the Damrau School of Violent Onsets. She's got a strong head voice, I'll give her that (though it is forced not floated,) and plenty of fruit in the chest voice. BUT, that's a lazy diaphragm. Hence the violent onsets, aspirated coloratura, the need to use the whole body to try and support instead of sitting on the breath, and her inaccurate acuti after the restatement of "mi fuo guidar." It's very Italianate singing. A little too Italianate. And violent, not at all pretty.

[cwecub]

oh shut up! no one understands what the hell you're talking about show off

[33blueberries]

Hahaha, how can you hold someone's education against them! That's gold.

[cwecub]

i'm a riot! i just like putting people in their places, and you've been a bad boy or girl

[KatherineXIX]

How in the hell can technique used to sing an Italian piece from an Italian opera written by an Italian composer be too Italianite? Haha...

[DrthBunnySliprs]

If you really knew what you were talking about, you'd know that singers CANNOT feel the diaphragm AT ALL. The entire body (or most of the muscles located in the torso area) from the Rectis Abdominus, internal obliques, to intercostals (etc.) is needed for true support. Joyce DiDonato is a very expressive singer and her voice/coloratura/SUPPORT is fantastic! You should also take into account that Rosina is a very fiery young woman. She's no prim and proper little lady who will just obey orders.

[33blueberries]

cwecub: You don't understand it? Fine, ignore it, and go on with your life. Or, if you want to understand it, learn. Here, I'll even help you: start with the written works of Richard Miller, and listen to any recorded opera that you can.

KatherineXIX: I confess, this is a personal preference, I find that Italianate techniques, over time, are hard on voices (see Mirella Freni).

[clnrch]

You are so not even close to being in the real world.  Seems you're looking for validation for your vast knowledge in the art of singing...lol-I'm thankful for your help....whew!

[33blueberries]

What is this "real world" of which you speak? :P

[clnrch]

You'll know when you enter it.

[33blueberries]

DBS: I am perfectly well aware that the diaphragm is below proprioceptive awareness (and I do not believe that I originally stated otherwise). However, I am also aware, as you may not be, that if a singer cannot keep perfectly still when singing coloratura, then there is often a faulty technique, and that fault is related to not "sitting on the breath". I am suggesting that this is the case with this performance. I am not denying the role of the intercostals etc. in supporting the voice.

[belcantoBR]

A little superficial knowledge is one of the dangers in any field. I am afraid this is your case. You read words somewhere without actually understanding the concepts. Try to be humble and listen to people who know more than you do! You will avoid making yourself sound foolish.

[33blueberries]

You can tell all that from a handful of little posts? ;)

Eh, this may be true, and you may be right. But what do I care, I have my understanding, and it is of little consequence to me if it appears to differ from yours.

[johatex]

buena, pero hay muchas mejores.. vean callas, beverly sills

[Kbritt7]

She is absolutely STUNNING! Stellar singing and I must say, CUTE costume! I just saw her sing Rosina tonight in Chicago and she rocked.

[CHerbek]

She's good, but she needs to sing more on the breath.

[johngarner3]

only callassssssssss

[bdvarner]

5/5!  Joyce DiDonato is a Rosina for the ages. I second Sam...can't wait to hear this at Lyric Opera of Chicago!!!

[samschultz]

Brava! I'm very much looking forward to hearing this live in Chicago in March!

[Wildlatinae]

Una interpretación notable, y ella es muy guapa.

[ilFactotum]

Encantadora interpretación, y sí, es guapa la condenada; creí que era el único que pensaba así.

[Orfeus80]

Rock steady singing but charmless. 4/4

[rawdonqueen]

In the beginning she takes her time with this aria and makes it very much her own. 5/5

[1laboheme]

5/5 Perfect! I'm so lucky to have heard her live, she's amazing. I wish there was a live performance of her Cenerentola someone could post...

[toccaalei]

What is this video from? 5/5!

[1laboheme]

Covent Garden 2005!

[dutchtallguy]

A pitty she has to sing in such a gruesome decor. Vivacious performance by this redhead. She give's her own turn to this aria. Would love to see and hear more of Ms. DiDonato in the future. 5/5

[rwolfman1265]

i dont know a great deal about her but i like this performance. 4/4

[drdre333]

The beginning (before she stands up) is not convincing me for some reason, both in the coloratura and the acting. I hear the great acciaccatura, but there are random things that mar the beginning. The staging doesn't seem to help either. Too bad.  She's really quite good. 4/4

[meltzerboy]

DiDonato's voice may not be as beautiful as, say, Horne's, but she uses it to maximum effect. Vocal expression is her priority, in which each phrase and each word within the phrase means something. In addition, she has the coloratura technique required to serve the interpretation (and not the other way around).

5/5

[metinalican]

4/5

[Iareto]

5/5.  She's brilliant and that's all there is to it.

[nickbigd]

fiery! 4/5

[robbyjarrett]

great! 4.5/5

[agfeleo]

PERFECT! POWERFUL! PERFECT!

[mozzgi]

Coloraturafan, thank you so much for the whole series.

[hotazzoperastud]

As always this is a role taylor made for Joyce. 5/5

[AnnElliot]

Just fab! very good voice, flawless coloratura plus she's very charismatic. 5/5

[operadm]

fabulous 5/5

[sevoflurane]

I saw this! She was absolutely great! The diction is superb and the coloratura a delight! Bravissima! 5/5