Wikipedia biography joyce didonato

Biography of Joyce DiDonato

Joyce DiDonato is an American opera singer, known for her exceptional interpretations of Handel, Mozart, and Rossini. She was born Joyce Flaherty in Prairie Village, Kansas, and was the sixth of seven children. In her high school years, she regularly sang in the local choir and performed in musicals, dreaming of a career as a Broadway pop star. In the fall of 1988, Joyce enrolled at Wichita State University, studying vocal performance. Initially, she did not consider a career as an opera singer and planned to teach music in schools. However, her passion for opera gradually grew.

After graduating from university in the spring of 1992, DiDonato decided to continue her studies at the Academy of Vocal Arts. In 1995, she joined the Santa Fe Opera, participating in a special program for talented young performers. She initially played supporting roles, preparing for larger operatic projects such as Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro," Richard Strauss's "Salome," and Imre Kálmán's "Gräfin Mariza." Her exceptional talent earned her a special award as an outstanding apprentice.

In 1996, DiDonato participated in the youth program of the Houston Grand Opera, and in the summer of 1997, she joined one of the programs at the San Francisco Opera. She started her professional career in the 1998-1999 season, performing several roles in local American opera theaters. One of her notable roles during that time was Maslova in the world premiere of Tod Machover's "Resurrection." A year later, she portrayed Meg in the world premiere of Mark Adamo's "Little Women." She also took on more classical roles in 1999, such as Cherubino in Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro" and Isabella in Rossini's "L'italiana in Algeri."

In 2000, DiDonato made her debut at La Scala, performing the role of Angelina in Rossini's "La Cenerentola." After her performance in Milan, she returned to the Houston Grand Opera, singing the role of Dorabella in Mozart's "Così fan tutte." In the same year, she received the ARIA Award, which is annually given to American singers with exceptional abilities and undeniable talent.

In the 2001-2002 season, DiDonato conquered four more opera theaters, making her debuts at the Washington National Opera, De Nederlandse Opera, Opéra National de Paris, and Bavarian State Opera. After her victorious European tour, she returned to Santa Fe. Over the next six years, DiDonato performed in several other major theaters, including the New York City Opera, New National Theatre Tokyo, San Francisco Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Metropolitan Opera, and Teatro Real. In all these opera houses, DiDonato was consistently greeted with applause.

Joyce DiDonato continues to actively perform to this day. She is married to Italian conductor Leonardo Vordoni, and this is her second marriage, although she kept her previous surname.