Joyce DiDonato 'triumphant' in her TSO debut
24 November 2025.
Globally renowned opera singer Joyce DiDonato made her long-awaited Australian debut with the TSO in Hobart in November.
Described as a ‘triumph’ in a five-star Limelight review, the performance marked the TSO’s gala event for 2025 and was led by Chief Conductor Eivind Aadland.
DiDonato was effusive in her praise of Tasmania, which was the first stop in her highly limited tour of Australia and New Zealand.
‘I’ve had four days here and I am absolutely stunned by not only the majesty and vastness of the nature, but the people. This combination of the two immediately makes me feel very welcomed here but very humble,’ DiDonato said.
‘I see a world in this Tasmanian community that’s based on respecting nature, with an atmosphere of kindness. It’s balm for a world that feels, in many places, like it’s full of chaos and confusion.'
‘To be here and see the possibility of what can be nurtured in a community is very inspiring, humbling and reassuring,’ she said.
DiDonato was effusive in her praise of Tasmania, which was the first stop in her long-awaited visit to Australia and New Zealand.
Thunderous applause resulted in DiDonato returning for two encores.
After 'a fizzing performance' (Limelight) of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus Overture byhe TSO, DiDonato joined Eivind and the orchestra for Berlioz’s Les nuit d’eté (Summer Nights).
Limelight’s Peter Donnelly said the six Berlioz songs were ‘an ideal vehicle to demonstrate DiDonato's vocal range and colour’.
‘Shepossesses a powerful but pure-toned and flexible voice that exudes a warmth and charisma that entrance the listener,’ Donnelly wrote.
Thunderous applause resulted in DiDonato returning for two encores – Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen and Arlen/Harburg’s Over the Rainbow.
Limelight gave the performance a perfect five stars, describing DiDonato's Australian debut with the TSO as a 'triumph'.
The concert began with a 'fizzing' performance of Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus Overture and ended ecstatically with Beethoven's seventh.
Audience members were clearly delighted by these generous extras and the latter had many concert goers in tears.
After the break, the orchestra and Eivind returned for a 'superbly wrought' (Limelight) performance of Beethoven’s seventh.
‘It is a great credit to the orchestra and its conductor Eivind Aadland that the first half of the program does not overshadow a superbly wrought Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A,’ Donnelly wrote in his Limelight review.
‘Aadland is a distinguished interpreter of this familiar repertoire and he brings buoyant rhythms, high energy and scrupulous attention to dynamic detail to this great work.’
Get TSO News
Be the first to hear about news, concerts and more! Join our mailing list today.
Sign Up