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Joyce Di Donato Concert -“Furore” Händel arias: Christophe Rousset et Les Talens Lyriques, Teatro Real de Madrid, 3.12.2008 (JMI) 

Teseo: Dolce riposo; Ira,sdegni e furore; Moriró, ma vendicata;
Idomeneo: Ouverture; Sorge nell’alma mia
Il Pastor fido: Chacona 
Xerxes: Crude furie
Ariodante: Scherza infida
Rodrigo: Passacaglia
Hercules: Ouverture; Cease, ruler of the day; Where shall I fly

Joyce Di Donato - Picture © Javier del Real

When artists reach the top level in the opera world  and enjoy general recognition from the public, it has become usual these days that they embark on concert tours, for they are a more rewarding, and profitable activity. At international level, there are very few artists of this stature, probably no more than a dozen in the world today.

Joyce Di Donato has a very consistent career behind her, and she has achieved real stardom in the last 4 years. To me, her Rosina in Pesaro (August 2005) with Juan diego Flórez under Daniele Gatti, and her recital at Teatro Rossini a few days later, were true showcases for a great singer in her prime. Since then, her career has gone from one success to another, and she has become one of most sought after singers in the world. 
 
Now the American mezzo soprano is undertaking a European tour, accompanied by Christophe Rousset and his orchestra Les Talens Lyriques, which will visit  Madrid, Valladolid and Bilbao , in Spain and travel to other countries during December. Her concert is publicized with the title “Furore” and consists of arias from operas and oratorios by Handel:  the baroque is a natural field for DiDonato and the French group.

Joyce DiDonato was excellent throughout the program, with her beautiful voice, which is superb in coloratura passages, offering real consistency through many different registers. Her voice does not have outstanding volume, and at some points in the programme I doubted whether some of her choices were the right ones for she failed to convince at the bottom of her register; however, when she was singing in her true mezzo range, she was outstanding. The first part of the concert offered several “arias de bravura” from Teseo and Xerxes, plus the most beautiful moment from Imeneo. After the interval the well-known “Scherza infida” proved to be the jewel in her voice. She raised the temperature of the theatre with her last two arias from Hercules, where she was, once again, at her very best.

As encores she offered “Ombra mai fu” from Xerxes, unfortunately too low for her, but she ended with “Dopo notte”  from Ariodante, in which she was excellent.

It is not easy for the  conductor and orchestra to shine in a concert of this kind. Christophe  Rousset and Les Talen Lyriques were very professional, perfectly correct, but not much more.  Madrid's Teatro Real had some empty seats, but the audience stood up for her “Scherza infida” and “Where shall I fly?” 

José M Irurzun

This concert is available as a recording on VIRGIN CLASSICS 519038. Ed.

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