Joyce DiDonato, Rossini Opera Arias 2009

Meridita and I were privileged to see the wonderful mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato in her signature role as Rossina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Yesterday afternoon I downloaded a new recording of her singing Rossini arias, and so far I've listened to it twice.

Her voice and the music are really delightful. I mean, delight is the word that best describes my experience. It's a pleasure to listen to.

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"Music, not magic, is the cure..."
Music and the Myth of Arcadia in Renaissance Italy, Giuseppe Gerbino

I lay on the couch listening to Joyce DiDonato's Rossini: Colbran The Muse (Opera Arias) as I recovered from a raw carrot allergy. The music was almost as effective as the Benadryl.

I flitted in and out of my antihistamine driven stupor thinking how DiDonato's voice sounds to me like a soaring bird -- swooping, diving, in trills and twists and turns. Just beautiful!

xo Meridita

Precursor 1: Diva (late 80s, early 90s)

My first opera experience was the movie Diva. Apparently it came out in 1981, but I'm pretty sure I didn't see it until college or maybe a little later, so I'm guessing it was re-released in the early 90s.

I remember it as being a tense, smart French thriller, although I don't recall much of the plot.

What I do remember is that it featured Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez singing a beautiful aria from La Wally. I bought the soundtrack (in cassette form, I think) and listened to it all the time.