DSC_9381-Edit adjThis is very much a Joyce DiDonato week! I attended a wonderful concert she gave with the Brentano Quartet and Jake Heggie at the new Milton Court Concert Hall on Tuesday followed by a masterclass the next day with singers from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She will also be singing tonight at the Barbican with the New York Philharmonic.

Joyce was on her usual scintillating form on both occasions. Apologising for a sprained ankle and slightly limping, she recalled her run of Barber of Seville performances at the Royal Opera House seven years ago when she broke her leg at the first performance and had to to perform the rest of the run whizzing about in a wheelchair she remarked ruefully that perhaps she should think of a new gimmick!

Talking of the Royal Opera House reminds me of her stunning performance in Rossini’s La Donna del Lago. This photo is one of my favourites  of her in action. It’s hard to believe that in the midst of such virtuosic singing she can maintain such a radiant look.