Three Centuries of Italian Love Songs, Barcelona
Joyce DiDonato captivates the Liceu
The Liceu already has a new muse. Joyce DiDonato Sunday deployed all her art and ability to charm with the intense song recital Three centuries of love. The diva from Kansas, who had won the heatrs here two years ago in La Cenerentola, confirmed that this mezzo coloratura is living the best moment of her career. The public finally surrendered to the elegance of her phrasing and musicality of her voice.
The Kansas mesosoprano deployed her beautiful song and a great capacity for seduction Joyce DiDonato, the Liceu
Expressive, outgoing, with an ebullient friendliness, DiDonato succeeded with her innate ability to convey emotion, to seem as if she had sung for each audience member alone. In the end, after the encore of Tanti affetti from Rossini’s La donna del lago, the hall roared its approval and the artist, with the excellent pianist David Zobel, had to return to bow four times. The tour de force of vocal agility had been the perfect finish to a great performance.
Shortly before beginning the Rossini aria a fan shouted “Brava!” She, with her unique sense of humor, replied, “Wait, I haven’t even sung it, yet.” DiDonato attacked the difficult performance with a refined technique. Rossini, one of the highlights of her repertoire with Handel and Mozart, featured prominently in the first half wth: the aria Assisa pie d’un Salice from Otello.
In closing, she surprised with a saucy and mischievous version of La spagnola Di Chiara. ¡Olé Joyce!