Joyce Di Donato - Armida, Final Scene (Rossini)

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Amazing performance by mezzo soprano Joyce di Donato. It gives me hope that the phenomenon of the soprano sfogato might soon return! The low phrases are sung with feeling and the high phrases with ease but with punch! From her new album "Colbran, The Muse"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• joyce
• di
• donato
• rossini
• isabella
• colbran
• bel
• canto
• soprano
• sfogato
• assoluta
• maria
• callas
• renee
• fleming
• armida

[saagua1953]

Joyce is a true soprano sfogato, that is a soprano with the range of a contralto plus that of a soprano. Patti and Colbran were the classic examples. I don't think Horne could ever go as high as DiDonato, at least not with the same ease.

[primohomme]

@saagua1953

I don't know if I consider Joyce a true soprano sfogato, as for me the greatest soprano sfogato is Maria Callas

But she certainly has a wonderful voice and range.

I think you meant Pasta instead of Patti, Adelina Patti was a light coloratura and Giuditta Pasta was a soprano sfogato :)

[saagua1953]

Fleming first did Armida in 1992 essentially reviving it. There is a recording of her performance. If she is not as good at the Met now this might be because she is 18 years older (agility declines with age). I do think DiDonato a better coloratura in general than Fleming.

[primohomme]

@saagua1953

Yes, her coloratura was cleaner before, but her characterization is much better now. Her most vocally perfect Armida is in 96 though.

[MrLupo23]

@Axil1991 I agree with u.

[Axil1991]

I like Joyce DiDonato' s version of Armida but her voice doesn't have the darkness that Armida needs in the final aria. Armida' s voice is supposed to be tremendous and vindictive (in this specific aria). Nevertheless, her voice is excellent and like crystal. :-)

[spenzur]

@primohomme I agree. I think people judge Fleming too hard sometimes, like everything she sings is bad. I think Fleming is the best Armida but DIdonato does a very good job too.

[debislo]

Well this is in everyway better that Fleming or even Anderson at her best. Wonderfulll impersonification and voice and meaning everywhere, what could one ask ofr more? oh yes,,, Maria Callas's genius and supreme fuck you I'm the best ever rendition!

[Pywacket2]

Brava!

[CallasAfrica]

@raigekimaru couldn't agree with you more!!!.... i listened to her sing elisabetta regina d'inghilterra and i heard the regal queen come to life!!... she blew me away!!... she sang it like a queen... I'm a huge didonato fan!!!

[raigekimaru]

@CallasAfrica

well, probably mostly because Fleming is a soprano and her voice is better able to handle this repertoire. the upper range of the soprano voice is naturally more emotive and "crying" so to speak. for mezzos, the more emotive part of their range is in the lower register, listen to her sing Where Shall I Fly and you'll get a better idea of her acting capabilities =)

[CallasAfrica]

I think Joyce is a wonderful technician!!...she sings armida brilliantly ... vocally she is amazing but emotionaly, she is no armida!!!... fleming is by far a better armida than didonato!.. when i listen to joyce i'm blown away by the skill and precision of her voice but when i listen to fleming i'm heartbroken by her pain in dov'e son io and then i really feel her anger and sense of betrayal in the last part where she gets all mad and crazzzzzzzzyyyy!!!