Joyce DiDonato - Furore - Handel Mad Scenes

[Poet2916]

I"m a lyric mezzo. I really like mad scenes, especially the one from Hamlet, which was sung most famously by Natalie Dessay. Is there any more mad scenes for mezzos?

[spenzur]

They should have brought this on dvd :(

[spenzur]

What is the first aria she sings?

[tadcastria]

She seems like a very nice person. She talks about singing with a lot of passion.

[violinistx100]

2:18 what is that aria?

[prokorichter]

@violinistx100 "Where Shall I Fly?" from Hercules by Handel.

[MusicVocalism]

One of my favorite albums! She is number one mezzo on my iPod ;D

[cooperdogable]

What a lovely video. What a beautiful intelligence.What an amazing voice! Brava!

[panajody]

No, you are not the only one who loves both of them. They are certainly not identical. I would love to hear them do Norma!

[007pml]

Beautiful in voice and spirit and body. Brava !

[007pml]

She has it all, voice, looks, excitement,energy and sensuality--everything. Incomparable !

[classicalgalNYC]

She owes "Crude furie degli orridi abissi" just fantastic!!! XD

[BWV1906]

I give her 5 stars! I have her on a few discs...but never really paid attention. Now, Im a true fan. She has her own special something....Bartoli and Vivica are surpassed in this repetoire.....but Joyce brings something awesome to it that I cant quite put my finger on.

[IMCOnAir]

yes... really mad... *laugh* (Thank's for looking behind the curtain of Joyce's work)

[santibarna]

great, but way can hear two voices in 4:21-4:23?? 

[wubawubas]

@santibarna its just the audio carrying over from her rehearsal clip to the performance clip

[CalifaJohn]

I have sat through so many boring performances of Handel's music. Nice to see it done with energy and excitement.

[classicalgal14]

Wonderful as always ;)

[barocklover1]

great ! well done

[annao273]

Why do we need to choose between Bartoli and DiDonato? Am I the only one who loves both? The world is such a brighter and richer place thanks to these two amazingly talented singers!

[mezzomaria]

Her blog is fabulous too. I think she's the most talented singer of all today.

[andreasscholl]

Just bought this album 2day!!!!!

I'm so happy, its GREAT.

Must buy!!!!!!!

Judmentday...choose between La DiDonato or La Bartoli....difficult.

DiDonato has much brightness and POWER!!!!!!!

(Sigh....)

[Dackelfreundin]

For me this is the best CD of the last year.

[piustwelfth]

Her voice is flat.  She is off key in most of these excerpts.

[glassona]

Sweet Joyce!! Intelligent, human, touching! Beautiful voice, amazing technique, lovely character!! People stood up at the Pleyel Hall in Paris when Joyce finished her Handel concert on the 9th December 2009!

[scothagen]

I have to buy that CD now.

[moghedien13]

I dont write about other singers on posts dedicated to a specific singer alot, but everyone should check out Mady Mesple doing In Furore Giustissimae Irae which i think didonato does on this cd. her voice is not rich and sometimes called acidic by others, but her delivery is so natural, unaffected, stylish, and simple ( especially in the lento) i was almost moved to tears.

[llum82]

ia amazing I love her

[jimhandel]

Well--this Mr. Handel thinks that Joyce DiDonato if just great!! I think the composer would have been very happy with her also, after all, there are extremely few singers that should even open these scores, so just enjoy!!

[DiomedesDioscuro]

Why can't I enjoy DiDonato's singing? I could admire her technique, ok, she's an excellent singer... But she just doesn't make me feel anything! I suppose it's her voice... Does anybody have the same impression? Socorro!

[palcika1]

I almost feel the same, except that I even like her voice. Still, she can't reach me. I think it's because singing is personal, and some persons just cannot understand each other. Or cannot like each other.

I think the personal motive in liking or rejecting a singer is always more dominant than we like to admit. (That's why there are so many ugly debates and comments about them.)

[Orfeus80]

She sounds like a meatier Bartoli to me. But that doesn't do much for me either. Oh well, tastes differ.

[thecelticspirit]

In which role did you see her ? I would strongly recommend you to see her Dejanira. She's AMAZING. "Cease , ruler of the day , to rise" (where she actually CRY while singing) and "Where shall I fly" are one of her finest interpretations, imho.

[noncondition]

Amazing Joyce, true emotion.

[alejandra379]

Very good.. and I love the thematic aproach, it's bringing out something new of Handel, the poor man has been soooo touched and you know.. on the last c.d's of his arias...

[Gudrun74]

This is paradise! I heard the Madrid Furore concert on radio and the encore was: Dopo Notte!! And what a DN. The whole high art of baroque bel canto within one aria. And this in addition to a most challenging concert program! Oh Joyce&Christophe, do you have an idea of the amount of joy you bring to us hungry Handel maniacs with this CD plus tour??

[hngltn]

Glad to hear and see Christophe directing another baroque CD. I commend him for taking a relatively unknown singer and bringing up her true talent, just as he did with Ewa Malas and Derek Lee Ragin years ago. Who would ever think or remember that baroque opera as we know it and as it is mostly interpreted today is the brain and dream child of Christophe. Thanks.

[Marinovka]

Good! Okey! But she doesn't feel the music like "One small voice singer", who sung in every big opera house a lots of times, and is famous because of LIVE performances. That little Italian mezzo is just amaizing. She can sing this whole "DIDONATO DIVINA" repertoire, and even more of it with such an ease that all of you DIDONATO fans(C.B.haters) can only be jelous, and you must search very hard to find someone who can beat her. BTW I don't think that you'll ever find better,chause CECI IS THE ONE

[mentafari]

diosa

[vitellia]

Apart from her magnificent singing, she is just about the most articulate and eloquently spoken (English-speaking) singer I've ever seen. I'll make sure to check out the promotional concert (in January 09 in NYC). It looks like an interesting program, thankfully.

[Gudrun74]

Vitellia, out of interest: do you happen to know the program of the NYC concert? I read here in Europe she'll sing in London *(below) but in Amsterdam she'll sing 4 arias more, incl Dopo Notte and L'angue offeso!!! Only reading the program feels like heaven:

[Gudrun74]

*London program: Händel - Aria 'Dolce riposo!' Händel - Aria 'Ira, sdegni, e furore' / 'O stringero nel sen' Händel - Aria 'Moriro, ma vendicata' Händel - Ouverture Händel - Aria 'Sorge nell'alma mia' Händel - Chaconne Händel - Aria 'Crude furie' Händel - Aria 'Scherza infida' Händel - Passacaille Händel - Ouverture Händel - Aria 'Cease Ruler of the Day to Rise' Händel - Aria 'Where Shall I Fly'

[Gudrun74]

Amsterdam program = London PLUS only in AMS:

Händel - Aria 'Dopo notte'

Händel - Aria 'L'angue offeso mai riposa'

Händel - Aria 'There in Myrtle Shades'

Händel - Aria 'Ombra mai fu di vegetabile'

***WONDERFUL***

[Gudrun74]

Oh it's such a pity they removed 'Dopo Notte' and 'L'angue offeso' as well from the Ams program. I just read it and I'm still under shock! So we'll never get to hear them?? I'd sacrifice each English aria for them because the Italian is the real Handel. And Dopo Notte THE aria every Handelian soul longs for ...

[vitellia]

Dear Gudrun, the NYC program (at Carnegie/Zankel) looks identical to the London one, at least according to the website. I'm so happy she managed to avoid the usual repertoire and tapped into those fabulous numbers from Teseo and Imeneo. I was listening to Teseo today, and it's amazing that it doesn't get performed as often as Rinaldo. And boy, Della Jones' Medea just blew me away, but I'm almost afraid Didonato will be even more powerful of a sorceress!

[Gudrun74]

Hey Vitellia, me too, I'm SO glad that finally an excellent Handel singer managed to record a satisfying CD. My music taste, or rather my whole life, is quite Handel-ized. I had almost given up hope, after some disastrously programmed Handel(/Hasse) CDs of other singers. Great that Ms. DiDonato did make her hands dirty here! I've no idea whether this artist knows of the amount of delight she brings to us. From what she tells about Handel's music's beauty and deepness, I think she must know.

[vitellia]

Ditto. I also want to add that this is going be the best Handel aria disc since that of Sanrine Piau's. Obviously, it has a lot to do with Maestro Rousset and his band. I just love the fact Didonato truly appreciates the authentic Baroque performance practice despite her American-bred "standard opera singer" background. I really think we are in the golden age of Handelian singing.

[Gudrun74]

And as to Mezzosopranos, I don't know of one good bravura CD the last couple of years at all. Couldn't Rousset touch base with Genaux and Bonitatibus as well?? The Italian DiDonato, as you called her already long ago, Vitellia (yes!). It's beyond me that Genaux' "Dopo Notte", Bonitatibus' "Agitaga da due venti", these absolutely essential baroque bravura arias, are only on (not very legal) private rec. on youtube. Isn't this crazy? At least Joyce realized what the world was missing - thankfully!

[thebarroque]

I agree with you, we need to hear more mezzos getting fury...one that I really like is Mary-Ellen Nesi, in fact she's a really baroque fan, she says that she feel lost when she's not in baroque, a cd of Bravura arias of her will be great!

[jlc10023]

I know some of you have said that Bartoli is more passionate than DiDonato. Having seen JDD in the staged version of "Hercules" and again in "Idomeneo" in Paris, I am afraid I disagree. Besides an amazing stage presence and musical confidence, I have never heard such passionate singing.

[miguelborrallo]

WONDERFUL JOYCE!! Really amazing... you are an incredible artist... tecnically perfect, expressive, elegant... A big artist is arrived to the world of Haendel... wonderful things will come, I'm sure... Brava Joyce!! I can't hardly wait for this new CD!!

[moment2music]

BRAVA Joyce!!!!

you ARE a stunning work of art.

i am proud beyond belief of your talent and your heart. thank you for sharing your gift with the world. ~douglas

[jlc10023]

Believe me, DiDonato is MORE than an answer to Bartoli. No aspirating her high notes, no grimacing while singing, and trues emotion with the n=most amazing coloratura. She did an "Una voce poco fa" at the Tucker Gala in Carnegi Hall last year that was perhaps the most exciting Rossini singing I have ever heard - and new and different embellishments each time. She is extraordinary.

[BlkMuscGent]

Yes, JLC. I am an ardent of both singers, but I find Didonato's artistry more satisfying, generally. Didonato's tone is more beautiful and evenly produced; her coloratura is more even and less aspirated; and her legato is just as good, if not better than Bartoli's. In my opinion, Bartoli is the more fiery interpreter, but perhaps that is due to personality. Didonato's Handel is incredible--I can't wait for October 7!

[denegaard]

What fun! Whether you're an opera "expert" or a beginner at learning to appreciate the medium, DiDonato will wow you! She's better than an acquired taste - from the first listen - she's yummy and truly accessible to everyone.

[palluccab]

This woman is amazing! She's real AND a really amazing talent!

[sillsman3]

She is really an extraordinary Artist ! Great Human being with magnificent soul ! My beloved and fantastic Elizabeth the first ! alain

[cleareyedwolf]

Ms. DiDonato is OUTSTANDING as always! I can't believe I have to wait until January for this CD!

[Satirike]

i know right! AHHH it will be out on Oct everywhere except the good ol' States :[

[whistlenotelover]

you can preorder or buy the original european import release on amazon--for a lil more $ if you don't want to hold on till the N.American release-date {which mind you will be of the exact same track-list product anyways so I see the time span pointless[that's what I did when I didn't wanna wait an additional 3 or 4 months for MAGDALENA KOZENA'S 'AH! MIO COR' HANDEL album to be released in stores! P>S> another major release to look forward to is DIANA DAMRAU: DONNA-MOZART:OPERATIC&CONCERT ARIAS!!

[Satirike]

Haha yes! Damrau's is coming out on Nov. 3! So excited.

[hillevifan]

does anyone know what songs are going to be on the new damrau cd?

[Satirike]

I think you already know this, but she's doing tons of Mozart repertoire. So Pamina, Blonde, Konstanze, Susanna etc.. don't know the specific songs but it's easy to guess, n'est-ce pas?

[Crindoro]

01 Al destin che la minaccia (MITRIDATE)

02 Ach, ich fühl's (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE)

03 E Susanna non vien (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO)

04 Dove sono i bei momenti (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO)

05 Giunse alfin il momento... (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO)

06 Deh, vieni, non tardar (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO)

07 Senti l'eco, ove t'aggiri (LA FINTA SEMPLICE)

08 Durch Zärtlichkeit (DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL)

09 Martern aller Arten (DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL)

[Crindoro]

10 Konzertarie ,,Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio!" (DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL)

11 Crudele?... (DON GIOVANNI)

12 Non mi dir (DON GIOVANNI)

13 S'altro che lagrime (LA CLEMENZA DI TITO)

14 In quali eccessi... (DON GIOVANNI)

15 Mi tradì (DON GIOVANNI)

16 Ecco il punto (LA CLEMENZA DI TITO)

17 Non più di fiori (LA CLEMENZA DI TITO)

18 Konzertarie "No, che non sei capace

[whistlenotelover]

what are your sources? are you 100% sure..I'm just a lil disapointed she did not decide to unclude slightly more demanding repotoire! she is easily capable of; doing this lighter, 'easier more lyrical' opposed to coloratura-laden reportory! she should have recoreded Dal tuo gentil sembiante,LUCIO SILLA's florid Ah,se il crudel periglio] * as for the concert aria [ instead of Vorrei; she should have challenegd herself with a rarely done concert aria: Ma che vi fece Sperai vicino il lido K.368!

[vitellia]

Call me crazy, but I always felt that Damrau's voice isn't as agile as, say, Dessay, who sang those arias you mentioned to perfection. She can sing Konstanze all right, but Konstanze's coloratura is mostly scale-based, I find, while those two Bb numbers are chockfull of some of the most elaborate coloraturas.

[vitellia]

It looks rather generic of a program. Maybe her previous CD with total rarities didn't sell all that well. I'm surprised that the list doesn't include "Popoli", the one with high G. I'm not sure if I'll buy this when all those arias have been recorded to death so often, so well, and by so many sopranos just as good.

[whistlenotelover]

I am very eager to listen to her rendition of Mozart opera-seria styled aria from his youth...it will be inriguing to see if Damrau's version can surpass Dessay's or Piau's! So I am very glad she chose this aria!

[whistlenotelover]

I am thrilled at the fact that Damrau will be singing Martern on her new album which is perfect for her voice given her bold electryfying timbre yet nimble florid flexibilty, & in german her native tongue! so we should expect pristine diction, gripping dramatic pathos along with captivating coloratura-laden passagios when the aria demands!! PERFECTION like a glove for her!

[BlkMuscGent]

Didonato IS America's answer to Bartoli!

I LOVE DIDONATO!

[Gudrun74]

There IS a huuuge difference between Joyce and Cecilia: namely the voice! Believe me, Joyce fills out a big opera house without any problems. Cecilia has a small, tiny one, actually you have to sit directly before her to only hear it. What I hate is the fact that on videos, even on so-called "live" ones, we are all the time manipulated and don't hear the real, un-manipulated voices.

[Gudrun74]

BikMuscGent, that's why I love Joyce, too: She's one of the very few that don't surprise (I mean: disappoint) you when you hear them live.

Cheers

[aurele65]

Merci pour la vidéo. Vivement la sortie du disque. Brava Joyce.

[Lilith89ibz]

Wow, I love this woman!