The beginning of June signals a shift in Rochester's weather. Finally, after the uncertainty of spring showers (and possibly snow), warm summer days are nearly guaranteed. It's the perfect time of year to get outside, find time to play, and rediscover forgotten passions. This sense of experimentation and playful energy is embodied beautifully in Joyce DiDonato's Grammy award-winning album Songplay.
When aspiring vocalists begin their formal classical music education, they are often inundated with art songs from centuries past in languages these young musicians are just beginning to understand. These chestnuts of the vocalist's canon are often practiced ad nauseam, until nearly all heart is beaten out of them.
After decades of experience in the opera world, DiDonato returns to these pieces and helps us discover fresh joy. After taking some time away from this repertoire, she found she was able not only to enjoy these pieces but play with them. In this album, with the help of arranger and pianist Craig Terry, DiDonato lets her joy infuse this music with new vitality. Nearly every song is reimagined through a new lens, whether tango, jazz, or simply the addition of a trumpet solo (performed beautifully by trumpeter Charlie Porter).
We got our first chance to hear pieces from this album back in January of 2020 during an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. You can still hear this live recording, where DiDonato shares her thoughts behind this innovative and captivating album.
Themes of love flow through these old Italian art songs, ideas that are just as relevant today as the day they were written. DiDonato highlights the vital and universal melodies of love by sprinkling in some contemporary favorites, like “With a Song in My Heart” from Spring is Here, “Will He Like Me?” from She Loves Me, and“(In My) Solitude” popularized by singers such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
DiDonato, Terry, and the rest of their talented ensemble celebrate the beauty of these tunes through improvisation. Though often associated with modern jazz ,improvisation was also an important skill for Baroque musicians. Performers in Handel's era could face a rotten tomato if they used the same vocal trick as a previous performance. Rooted in this improvisatory tradition, DiDonato's ensemble creates some truly inspired and heartfelt musical gems.
