Joyce DiDonato: Can Classical Music Change the World?

In this episode of New Classical Podcast, Opera Bert sits down with Joyce DiDonato to explore one big question: What can music written almost 300 years ago tell us about the world we live in today? From war and peace to our relationship with nature, Joyce DiDonato has built a remarkable artistic journey around the idea that classical music is far more than a beautiful sound. It can challenge us, make us reflect, and help us understand what it means to be human.

We dive into the stories behind her visionary projects In War & Peace and Eden, exploring how Baroque music and timeless masterpieces can speak directly to some of the most pressing issues of our time. Joyce also takes us behind the scenes of her latest project, Emily – No Prisoner Be, inspired by the extraordinary life and poetry of Emily Dickinson. What connects a 19th-century American poet with our modern world, and how do you transform her universe into a musical experience?

But there’s more to Joyce than her life on stage. As a passionate mentor and advocate for young singers, she opens up about the challenges of building a career in opera today, the realities facing the next generation of classical musicians, and why supporting young artists matters more than ever.

Expect curiosity, unexpected perspectives, and a few surprises along the way. Because when Joyce DiDonato talks about music, the conversation goes far beyond opera, straight to the heart of what connects us all.