2016 Gramophone Award shortlist - "Joyce & Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall"

“Joyce & Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall,” the award-winning album featuring Joyce DiDonato’s extraordinary Wigmore Hall recital with Sir Antonio Pappano, has been shortlisted for a 2016 Gramophone Award in the Solo Vocal category. For a complete list of nominees visit Gramophone online, and read the September issue of Gramophone magazine to see the top three albums in each category.

From Gramophone: This year, for the first time, there are two ways for you to enjoy the Gramophone Classical Music Awards Shortlist. Firstly, you can read and download our free digital magazine, which includes every review of every album, via the Gramophone app (for iPad and iPhone users) or the Exact Editions website. Alternatively, follow the links in the list below to read the original Gramophone reviews via the Reviews Database (for a limited time, you can read up to 10 reviews for free – subscribe for full access to the Reviews Database).

Reviews:

“This duo recital with ‘Joyce and Tony’ seems even better on disc than it did live. Was DiDonato really so gripping in Haydn, so ravishing in songs by the long-forgotten Santoliquido? And what a dream team she and Pappano make in hits from the Great American Songbook. Listen back with nostalgia. Or just discover and marvel.” -Gramophone Magazine

“Last year’s recital by the dream duo of Joyce DiDonato and Antonio Pappano works wonderfully as a double CD – arguably more effective than the concert itself. Haydn’s dramatic scena, Arianna a Naxos, comes into its own, the seriousness, virtuosity and beauty of the performance easier to enjoy in private contemplation…DiDonato’s immaculate voice relishes every vowel sound, Pappano responds with pianistic wit and idiomatic invention. All a delight.” –The Guardian

“The ebullient personalities, instinctive musicianship and rock-solid technique of mezzo Joyce DiDonato and pianist Antonio Pappano are amply displayed on this two-CD set, recorded live in September 2014 — the second time the popular mezzo had been invited to open the season at the prestigious Wigmore Hall. She and Pappano are wonderfully matched, showing mastery of many musical styles with a range of emotions and a great sense of humor . . .” –Opera News