• Print Page
• Email Page to a Friend

Joyce DiDonato becomes Honorary Patron of American Friends of Wigmore Hall

Joyce DiDonato, the internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano, has become Honorary Patron of the American Friends of Wigmore Hall. Ms DiDonato’s association with the Hall goes back more than a decade, and she is a regular performer at the venue, where her appearances are greatly anticipated and appreciated by a large and enthusiastic following.

Joyce DiDonato will act as the public face of the American Friends of Wigmore Hall on the world stage and will also become involved in its promotional and fundraising activities.

Cita Stelzer, President of American Friends of Wigmore Hall, welcomed Joyce DiDonato:

‘We are delighted that Joyce DiDonato is taking time from her busy schedule to join with us in sustaining American Friends of Wigmore Hall in our efforts to support Wigmore Hall and champion music projects which strengthen artistic connections between the US and the UK. It is artists like Joyce DiDonato combined with our knowledgeable audiences and John Gilhooly, our Director, who make Wigmore Hall the great venue it is. We look forward to working with her.’

John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall, said:

‘Joyce DiDonato embodies so much of what Wigmore Hall represents and it is therefore a great honour to welcome her as the Honorary Patron of American Friends of Wigmore Hall. The warmth and affection in which she is held by audiences all over the world, and her championing of the Wigmore Hall, will surely make her the most wonderful advocate for the American Friends.’

Joyce DiDonato said:

‘I am honoured to become the Honorary Patron of American Friends of Wigmore Hall. I am thrilled to represent what is undoubtedly the leading international venue for song and chamber music and look forward to a long association as an ambassador for the Hall's American Friends.'

American Friends of Wigmore Hall

American Friends of Wigmore Hall was set up in 2003 to support chamber music and song in performance, and in particular to strengthen classical musical ties between the UK and the US. With this in mind, the organisation, funded by its membership, ordinarily supports American artists and chamber music/song and ensemble projects on both sides of the Atlantic, with a preference for projects where there is a connection with Wigmore Hall.

Biography, Joyce DiDonato

Born and educated in Kansas Joyce DiDonato was a member of the young artists programme of the San Francisco, Houston Grand, and Santa Fe opera companies after graduate studies at Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts. She began her career in the US, but soon developed a growing and appreciative following in opera, concert and recital, appearing in all the major houses and concert venues.

She is a renowned singer of Rossini, making headlines worldwide in 2009 when she completed a run of The Barber of Seville at Covent Garden singing Rosina in a wheelchair after breaking her leg during the first performance. Her many other operatic roles include Cherubino, Octavian, Cenerentola, Alcina, Idamante, Ariodante, and most recently Adalgisa in Salzburg. DiDonato has also appeared in a number of significant new works, including a song cycle by Peter Lieberson and most notably as Sister Helen Prejean in Jake Heggie's major opera Dead Man Walking.

She is also a committed recitalist, challenging her audiences with a wide range of repertoire. She opened Wigmore Hall's 2008/9 season, and in March 2011 made her Carnegie Hall debut in which she gave the first performance of a new song cycle by Jake Heggie.

Joyce DiDonato's extensive discography ranges through opera and recital, and includes a Wigmore Live recording of her debut recital at the Hall. In 2010 her outstanding disc of Rossini arias, Colbran, the Muse, was named Recital Disc of the Year by Gramophone at a ceremony which also saw her honoured as Artist of the Year.

Her most recent recording, Diva/Divo, sees her exploring the mezzo-soprano's opportunity to portray both male and female roles, and displays both her dazzling virtuosity and her exceptional ability to get to the heart of each character. Hers is a voice "nothing less than 24-carat gold" says The Times, an opinion shared by enthusiastic audiences worldwide