If you’ve been to any of the operas in which Joyce DiDonato has sung a major role, you may have noticed her playing a female or male role.  This is because her type of voice as a mezzo-soprano—a slightly lower, richer voice that gives her an extended range—has provided her the flexibility to play either role.

This genetic blessing has allowed me to portray a wealth of characters, from young boys to princesses, from ardent young men to demented, murderous wives. A richer tapestry of human emotions would be hard to find, and that translates into sheer fun for me! It is this exploration of our world, both external and internal, that continually set me on fire.

DiDonato proves this vocal agility off the stage in her new recording—Diva, Divo—released on January 25^th.  In this collection of opera favorites, she showcases male and female characters from the same story.  And to further the contrast on this album, she also sings opera tales (Figaro, Cinderella and Faust) as told by two different composers.

You can hear more about this juxtaposition on a recent interview that DiDonato did with Guy Raz on All Things Considered and download a track from this CD to prep you for her upcoming PCMS recital on February 28^th.  Don’t expect her to be changing outfits during her performance, but do anticipate agreeing with one critic who has said hearing DiDonato is “simply the best singing I’ve heard in years.”