***** Songplay: op de cover van haar nieuwe cd kijkt Joyce DiDonato je ondeugend vrolijk aan. In zwart pak en hoge hoed doet ze je denken aan Liza Minnelli in Cabaret. Als je begint te luisteren, is de verrassing groot: de overbekende aria Se tu m'ami van Alessandro Parisotti in een totaal nieuw jasje. Het is de perfecte teaser voor deze cd, samengesteld uit een mengeling van barokaria's en musicalsongs, en dit alles in een bewerking voor een heerlijk klein instrumentaal ensemble.
Joyce DiDonato proves herself here once again as a singer who is at home in all genres. We associate her abundance of talent especially with classical repertoire such as Baroque and bel canto. But it is nice to get to know her from a different angle, and she is equally successful at it. She does it very deliberately, because in her witty introduction to the cd she mocks serious and 'stressy' singing lessons and argues for tackling the iron repertoire in a different way, with fantasy and improvisation. She surrounds herself with a pianist-arranger (Craig Terry) and further with trumpet, bandoneon, bass and drums.
The chosen arias and songs have love in all its aspects as their theme. Various emotions come into play. Joyce simply puts Baroque arias next to the Great American Songbook and plays with her voice in all sorts of keys. Flawless coloraturas go hand in hand with a jazzy sound. Her energy knows no bounds. Listen to the dancing Lullaby of Birdland. It is simply blissful with the yearning final verse We're in love. Vivaldi as blues or Amarilli, mia bella by Caccini? DiDonato holds the notes brilliantly or delivers delicious trills, while the accompaniment in the bass sounds lovely and warm. This delightful cd proves: talent always rises to the top, in whatever style or context.
- WHAT: Songplay
- WHO: Joyce DiDonato (mezzo), Craig Terry (piano), Charlie Porter (trumpet), Lautaro Greco (bandoneon), Chuck Israels (bass), Jimmy Madison (drums)
- WHERE: Erato 0190295534387