Tonight, Friday 3 October, Joyce DiDonato will perform the music from her new album Stella di Napoli at the Gowanus Ballroom, a warehouse performance art space in Brooklyn, located above Serett Metal Works.
The intimate event is co-hosted by Warner Classics/Erato and LoftOpera. It will take the Yankee Diva and her album's of 19th century Bel Canto music and place it in a distinctly modern and urban setting.
The concert will be livestreamed beginning at 9pm EST and can be followed on this page, below.
Stella di Napoli was released a month ago and debuted at #1 on the classical charts in the US, UK and France, and has been greeted with glowing reviews around the world. It traces the birth of Bel Canto in Naples, with three world première recordings from Pacini, Carafa and Valentini. DiDonato interprets this repertoire gloriously, she doesn't miss an expressive opportunity, she has an easy coloratura, an impressive knack with ribattute notes, and a glamorous trill. The colour of her voice is natural and rich, with none of that false imitation contralto which has led many a mezzo astray. Add to this her captivating personality – which comes across on disc, and will certainly be evident during tonight's relay – and the combination is winning. If this listner has just one quibble (which doesn't affect the enjoyment of the programme, but reflects a slight preoccupation for DiDonato in the future) it is about the extreme high-notes which when pushed makes her already rapid vibrato turn bleaty, which sounds to me like vocal chords protesting. Maybe those notes shouldn't be too over-used. Whatever, DiDonato is a rare creature that should be cherished and celebrated, just like the live streaming event will do this evening.
Joyce DiDonato – Stella di Napoli
Friday 3 October
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Gowanus Ballroom
55 9th Street, Brooklyn NY
TICKETS: http://www.loftopera.com/
LoftOpera is a fast-rising young organization committed to infusing opera into Brooklyn's underground through performances in loft spaces. The company is made up of a group of young performers and administrators who are passionate about bringing opera to a new setting and a new audience with immersive stagings, large orchestras, and talented voices.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
