Joyce DiDonato
©J osef Fischnaller
Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has announced that she is canceling her concerts and recording of Bizet’s Carmen due to health problems of conductor John Nelson. The concerts and the recording were scheduled at Palais de la musique et des Congrès in Strasbourg, France, at the beginning of April.
Other roles were cast with Michael Spyres as Don José Elsa Dreisig as Micaëla and Alexandre Duhamel Escamillo.
In a post on Instagram DiDonato wrote, “I am heartbroken to hear the news of John Nelson’s health which has made necessary his withdrawal from our planned concerts and recording of Carmen. »
DiDonato wrote that Carmen wasn’t a role she sought out “yet John’s invitation to perform under his scrupulous, and deeply authentic guidance was one I could not pass up.”
DiDonato did not elaborate on the nature of the conductor’s condition but she said: “Let’s work not to see this as bad news, but instead welcome the positive news that John’s prognosis is strong, and that he is surrounded by an incredible community of people who love him.”
