Thanks to Musiikkitalo – The Helsinki Music Centre, Musica was able to meet the top American mezzo-soprano.

In the words of Joyce DiDonato:

“We are using these majestic composers from centuries ago to look at both sides of humanity that we all have inside of ourselves: the dark and the light, the turmoil and the serenity. We start with “Scenes of horror, scenes of woe”, it’s this premonition of seeing destruction.”

“… and the idea is just to sort of plunge people into chaos, and to feel it.”

And so it begins ... hope to see you all in one of these upcoming cities!! #TalkPeace / #DoPeace pic.twitter.com/ltjNMzY6MR

— Joyce DiDonato (@JoyceDiDonato) 17 novembre 2016

“… and then being held a captive, and being a part of the darkness but still yearning for the light; and then the light comes and yet the darkness is sort of calling in the background… We’re always going between these two worlds.”

“I wanted to shake up the listeners, so that they are forced to confront why they are uncomfortable, or why they are excited. So I’m using fashion. I’m applying face paint that is illuminating this world of scars, and blood, and wounds; the scars are still there in the peace time but it’s transformed more into light and water and flower.”

In case you missed it, here's our playout from Grammy award-winning mezzo-soprano @JoyceDiDonato #newsnight https://t.co/GaURk1n6nz

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) 21 novembre 2016

“I’m very idealistic, and I really believe that we can change the world! I really believe that music heals, I really believe that music has a power much… much greater than modern technology, it reaches our heart, it touches people there!”

“I want to show people that we have a choice, that we can nurture this, where we start – in the dark; or we can nurture that light, and let that grow more and more in our lives.” 

Edie Windsor, LGBT Activist, Defendant in the US Supreme Court Defense of Marriact Act (DOMA) #TalkPeace / #DoPeace pic.twitter.com/S2fOxs3ITG

— Joyce DiDonato (@JoyceDiDonato) 20 ottobre 2016

Joyce DiDonato’s next concerts will take place on the following dates: December 9 (Chicago, IL), 12 (Rochester, NY), 15 (New York, NY); several dates are scheduled for May and June 2017 in Europe.

For video previews, musical excerpts and concert schedule, click here.

Joyce DiDonato’s “In War & Peace”, with Il Pomo d’Oro, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev, was released last November by Parlophone/Erato/Warner Classics. (Euronews)

My friends, it is International Peace Day - here is my contribution: https://t.co/ZzL1M5zR5L #TalkPeace / #DoPeace pic.twitter.com/LIyA0ddd9b

— Joyce DiDonato (@JoyceDiDonato) 21 settembre 2016