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Joyce DiDonato

Biography (read more)

Joyce DiDonato (born Joyce Flaherty, 13 February 1969, in Prairie Village, Kansas) is an American mezzo-soprano. The sixth of seven children, she studied voice at Wichita State University, graduating in 1992, and continued her training at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia before passing through young-artist programs including that of Houston Grand Opera. She made her breakthrough in bel canto and Baroque repertoire, becoming closely associated with the operas of Rossini, Handel, and Massenet, and has performed leading trouser and travesti roles at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, and Teatro alla Scala.

Described by The New Yorker as “perhaps the most potent female singer of her generation,” DiDonato has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Classical Vocal Solo in 2012, alongside numerous Gramophone and Echo Klassik honors. Known equally for her stagecraft and her advocacy for arts education, she has expanded the mezzo-soprano’s concert repertoire through acclaimed recital programs such as In War and Peace and Eden, and remains one of the most recorded and celebrated singers on the Erato/Warner Classics roster.

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Repertoire

Rinaldo, HWV 7: “Lascia ch’io pianga”— George Frideric Handel
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Dido and Aeneas: Dido’s Lament (“When I Am Laid in Earth”)— Henry Purcell
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Joyce DiDonato sings “À Chloris”— Reynaldo Hahn
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Theodora: “As with rosy steps the morn”— George Frideric Handel
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Winterreise: I. Gute Nacht (“Good Night”)— Franz Schubert
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Rückert-Lieder: “Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft!”— Gustav Mahler
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“Colbran, the Muse”— Gioachino Rossini
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Winterreise: XXIV. Der Leiermann— Franz Schubert
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Winterreise: V. Der Lindenbaum (“The Linden Tree”)— Franz Schubert
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Winterreise: X. Rast (“Rest”)— Franz Schubert
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Winterreise: XX. Der Wegweiser (“The Signpost”)— Franz Schubert
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Winterreise: XV. Die Krähe (“The Crow”)— Franz Schubert
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When I Am Laid in Earth…— Henry Purcell
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Les Troyens – Adieu Fière Cité (Didon)— Hector Berlioz
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Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Tu ben degno” (with Il Pomo d’Oro)— George Frideric Handel
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Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ho un non so che nel cor” (with Il Pomo d’Oro)— George Frideric Handel
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Norma (Joyce DiDonato, Sondra Radvanovsky, Joseph Calleja)— Vincenzo Bellini
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La Damnation de Faust: “D’amour l’ardente flamme” (Joyce DiDonato, John Nelson)— Hector Berlioz
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Armida, Act 2 Scene 2: No. 10b, Finale, “D’amor al dolce impero” (Armida, Chorus)— Gioachino Rossini
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La donna del lago, Act 1 Scene 2: No. 1b, Cavatina, “Oh mattutini albori” (Elena)— Gioachino Rossini
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La donna del lago, Act 2 Scene 7: No. 13, Rondo e Finale, “Tanti affetti in tal momento”…— Gioachino Rossini
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La donna del lago, Act 2 Scene 7: “Fra il padre e fra l’amante” (Elena, Chorus)— Gioachino Rossini
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Maometto secondo, Act 1: “Giusto ciel, in tal periglio” (Anna, Chorus)— Gioachino Rossini
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Elisabetta, regina d’Inghilterra, Act 1 Scene 2: No. 2b, Cavatina, “Qant’è grato all’alma mia”…— Gioachino Rossini
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Semiramide, Act 1 Scene 9: No. 5, Coro e Cavatina, “Serena i vaghi rai” (Chorus)— Gioachino Rossini
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Semiramide, Act 1: “Bel raggio lusinghier” (Semiramide, Coro)— Gioachino Rossini
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Otello, Act 3 Scene 1: No. 10a, Scena, “Ah! … Dagli affanni oppressa” (Desdemona, Emilia)— Gioachino Rossini
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Otello, Act 3 Scene 1: No. 10a, Canzone del Gondoliere, “Nessun maggior dolore” (Il Gondoliere)— Gioachino Rossini
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Otello, Act 3 Scene 1: No. 10a, “Oh come infino al core” (Desdemona, Emilia)— Gioachino Rossini
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Otello, Act 3 Scene 1: No. 10b, Canzone del salice, “Assisa a’ piè d’un salice” (Desdemona,…— Gioachino Rossini
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Otello, Act 3 Scene 2: No. 10c, Preghiera, “Deh calma, o ciel, nel sonno” (Desdemona)— Gioachino Rossini
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Armida, Act 3 Scene 9: No. 15, Finale, “Se al mio crudel tormento” (Armida, Rinaldo, Ubaldo, Carlo)— Gioachino Rossini
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Armida, Act 3 Scene 10: “Dove son io? … Fuggi” (Armida)— Gioachino Rossini
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Armida, Act 3 Scene 10: “È ver … gode quest’anima” (Armida, Chorus)— Gioachino Rossini
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