In War And Peace

Examining the role of music as a catalyst for social change.

The extraordinary power of music to create hope and support change inspired the audience at the Barbican on 22 November 2016.

Supported by the Pure Land Foundation in association with Bruno Wang Productions, the event took its theme from Grammy award-winning opera star Joyce DiDonato’s latest project, a CD and tour entitled ‘In War and Peace: Harmony Through Music’, which continues internationally until July 2017.

The album – a programme of baroque arias that examine the nature of conflict and reconciliation collated in response to last year’s Paris terrorist attacks – has received warm reviews, as did this “sensuous and stark” performance at the Barbican.

The superb Joyce DiDonato, dressed in sumptuous Vivienne Westwood gowns explores discord and harmony in times of war in her powerful interpretations of Baroque arias. In War and Peace is a classical concept-album. Faced with a world of ever-escalating conflict and chaos, DiDonato turns to music, both to explain man’s darkest and most violent urges and to offer them consolation and resolution. Can music create peace? That is the question asked here in a programme of two contrasting halves. Audience members were left cards from Ms DiDonato on their seats asking them to share exactly that on her project website: http://inwarandpeace.com/.

Ms DiDonato presents a completely new way of thinking about the concert format – a classical concert for the stadium generation: projections, smoke, sound effects, costume changes, lighting design and a solo dancer, Manuel Palazzo.

The sunlit voice and exuberant personality of mezzo Joyce DiDonato have made her a real favourite with London audiences, particularly those at the Barbican. Here she’s accompanied by Maxim Emelyanychev conducting the lively new Italian period instrument ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro; the ideal partners for this most spirited of singers.