Houston Grand Opera's 2012 staging of Donizetti's opera, based on Schiller’s play “Mary Stuart," stars Joyce DiDonato in her role debut of as the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots. The quasi-historical drama recounts how Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I (Katie van Kooten) rival for the crown and the same nobleman's love.
Elizabeth has imprisoned Mary, suspecting her of treason, but the Duke of Leicester, her adviser and Mary's lover, convinces the queen to meet her cousin; tempers soon surface and rage out of control. Mary, condemned to death, faces her demise with great dignity.
DiDonato will reprise this role on Dec. 31 in a new production at the Metropolitan Opera.
Cast:
Maria Stuarda Joyce DiDonato
Elisabetta Katie van Kooten
Earl of Leicester Eric Cutler
Talbot Robert Gleadow
Cecil Oren Gradus
Anna Catherine Martin
CONDUCTOR: Patrick Summers
STAGE DIRECTOR: Kevin Newbury
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER: Richard Bado
Follow WQXR
About Saturday at the Opera
WFMT brings you the most electrifying live performances from the world’s great opera companies: the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Los Angeles Opera, the San Francisco Opera and the Houston Grand Opera.
Comments [4]
Brava Joyce DiDonata!!!
Great voices....DiDonato is a known quantity and was a wonderful Mary Stuart. The real surprise was van Kooten the Elizabeth. She has a sleek, marvelous voice that seems to be able to easily negotiate Donizetti's florid writing. I would love to hear more of her. Probably a good Mozartean.
Why can't I get any sound?
What a pleasant surprise. Actually enjoying the music and great singing by Joyce. I was expecting a bow wow like Anna Bolena.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.