5 great opera-concerts at TCE: (4) Ariodantissimo

Ariodante (in concert), Théâtre des Champs Elysées, May 23 2011

Alan Curtis ..... Conductor

Joyce DiDonato ..... Ariodante
Marie-Nicole Lemieux ..... Polinesso
Karina Gauvin ..... Ginevra
Sabina Puertolas ..... Dalinda
Nicholas Phan ..... Lurcanio
Matthew Brook ..... Le Roi
Paolo Borgonovo ..... Odoardo

Il Complesso Barocco

Diva/Divo at Théâtre des Champs Elysées: We love Joyce

Les grandes voix: Joyce DiDonato, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, September 22 - 2010 

It's a great pleasure to see Joyce DiDonato back in Paris, less than 3 months after her superb Elena in Rossini's La donna del lago at Opéra Garnier and her memorable recital at Théâtre des Champs Elysées (TCE).  Joyce and Paris -- that's a love story, so I wasn't at all surprised to see TCE full with people.

In one sentence, this was a wonderful concert and my pleasure was doubled by the fact that Kazushi Ono (who I also like very much!) came with the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon to accompany Joyce. We learned...

Paris hearts Joyce

Les grandes voix: Joyce DiDonato,   Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, June 16 - 2010

David Zobel and Joyce DiDonato

La donna del lago: excellent singers in a godawful production

La donna del lago,  Opéra Garnier, Paris, June 11 2010
 

Roberto Abbado    Conductor
Lluís Pasqual     Director

Juan Diego Florez  Giacomo V (Uberto di Snowdon)
Simon Orfila  Duglas d’Angus
Colin Lee  Rodrigo di Dhu
Joyce DiDonato   Elena
Daniela Barcellona  Malcolm Groeme
Diana Axentii  Albina
Jason Bridges  Serano

Aspettando la Donna del lago c'è la Joyce DiDonato

La Donna del lago [or La dame du lac, as it was duly translated into French ;)] is expected to open next Monday, June 14, and so far no detail about the production leaked to the press. The show will take place at Opéra Garnier, which is a big theater but not as big as Bastille ==> the situation with tickets is absolutely insane. To score a ticket for one of the shows in June is literally impossible. The show was sold out months in advance and if/when there is a couple of tickets returned there are immediately dozens of people emerging from nowhere, assaulting the box office, ready to pay whatever the price just to get those tickets. You don't see this kind of craziness in Opera these days...

Joyce on France2 singing the final rondo from La donna del lago - June 10, 2010

New donna del lago in Geneva

While waiting for La Donna del Lago with Juan Diego Florez and Joyce DiDonato in Paris in June, we're keeping our eyes and ears opened to what's happening in Geneva where Joyce sings her first Elena, in the new production by Christof Loy.

Gregory Kunde and Joyce DiDonato in the new production of La Donna del Lago in Geneva [photo lifted from the GTG website]

Below you will find the video of an interview with Joyce on Swiss television, which also contains a couple of excerpts from this new production (it's in French BUT with English subtitles  - enjoy!)


Update: Always reliable Mei was actually in Geneva and saw the show last night. Read her short and enthusiastic review!

Joyce la Diva Yankee herself brings a few keys for an easier reading of the Christof Loy's -- "Breaking the waves" inspired-- production. Enjoy!