NYO-USA and Joyce DiDonato Perform Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’été”

Watch Sir Antonio Pappano lead NYO-USA in a performance of Hector Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’été,” Op. 7, with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg in 2019.
NYO-USA 2019 comprised 119 members-ages 16-19 and hailing from 33 US states-who were recognized by Carnegie Hall as some of the finest players in the country following a comprehensive national audition process. In preparation for its performance activities in the New York area and abroad, NYO-USA once again worked with an impressive list of principal players from many of the nation’s top professional orchestras during its training residency.
Following a return to the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts, Sir Antonio Pappano and NYO-USA took the stage Carnegie Hall for the orchestra’s annual concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. The program included Strauss’s “Eine Alpensinfonie” and Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’été” featuring renowned mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard. The orchestra then departed to Europe for debut performances as part of the Young Euro Classic series at Konzerthaus Berlin with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, as well as the Edinburgh International Festival and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and a return to the BBC Proms and Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.

[@AAbshier]

She is so good at dynamic contrast, and drawing us into the music. Plus the voice is luminous. The young orchestra is the perfect accompaniment.

[@johnsonharold3463]

Brava, Bravissima Joyce DiDonato. This is a song cycle with sumptious music needing a voice with flexible articulation and complete vocal control. Not only this, but a singer who has the feeling for interpetation of text paralled with musical writing. Feeling, sensitivity, fineline vocal preparation are all qualities which I find in Joyce DiDonato which make her rendition of this song cycle the best that I have heard. Also the conductor and the orchetra are to be generously applauded. I only wish that before starting they had asked the audience to hold all applause until the end of the performance. Bravo Berlioz. I love Papano, the excellent Maestro

[@gabriellaenekes71]

Beautiful, fantastic performance ❤❤❤

[@judith-havas]

The best rendition ever!!