Theatre News

Joyce DiDonato wins two Gramophone Awards

| London |

2 October 2010

Leading American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has won two Gramophone Awards. She was named Artist of the Year and came first in the Recital Category for her recording of Rossini arias on Virgin Classics entitled Colbran the Muse.

Announced at a glittering ceremony on 1 October at London’s Dorchester Hotel, the glamorous singer beat off competition from a host of luminaries including Placido Domingo and Lang Lang to win the coveted Artist of the Year award, with voting having taken place via a worldwide online poll.

DiDonato won all hearts last season after breaking a bone in her leg during the first night of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia at The Royal Opera, but trouper that she is soldiered on til the end of the show, going on to complete the run of performances confined to a wheelchair.

Other winners this year included the Hallé’s recording of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung under its music director Sir Mark Elder in the Opera category, whilst Jonathan Kent’s spellbinding staging of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen for Glyndebourne won best performance on DVD.