Danielle de Niese
Biography
Australian-born to parents of Sri Lankan, Dutch and Scottish ancestry, Danielle de Niese moved to Los Angeles at the age of 10.
Danielle's career got off to a prestigious start when as a teenager she was the host of a television program which featured young performers. This won her an Emmy Award in 1996. Then, aged 18, she became the youngest singer ever to enter the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. It was not long before she made her Met debut, sharing the stage, as Barbarina in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro with Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli and Renee Fleming in the production conducted by James Levine and directed by Jonathan Miller.
Her breakthrough performance came in 2005, to a European audience, at Glyndebourne Festival, which brought her true international acclaim. Her portrayal of Cleopatra in a David McVicar production of ‘Handel's Giulio Cesare' on her debut at the festival secured her lucrative exclusive album deal with Decca Records.
Since then Danielle has gone on to enjoy success on many stages including in major opera houses and with prominent orchestras in Europe and the U.S. and making appearances alongside the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. She has also found time to reprise her role as Cleopatra for audiences in America.
In addition, she made appearances in Les Misérables on Broadway and in the 2001 motion picture Hannibal. She made her Royal Opera House debut earlier this year, singing Galatea in the second part of a double bill of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Handel's Acis and Galatea, directed by the Royal Ballet's in-house choreographer, Wayne McGregor. The production marked a rare collaboration between the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House.
Music
Having risen to prominence after appearing as Cleopatra in David McVicar's highly-acclaimed production of Giulio Cesare in 2005, it's perhaps no surprise that soprano Danielle continues to explore her love of Handel's vocal music, singing a selection of arias for her debut album to ‘Handel Arias.'
Revered Handel specialist William Christie joins her to conduct the award-winning period orchestra Les Arts Florissants.
Handel Arias, released in 2007, earned her a nomination for the 2009 Classical Brit Award for female artist of the year. Her second recording, The Mozart Album, came out in October 2009. Diva will be released on 26 July 2010.
Danielle de Niese on Classic FM
Listen to Danielle de Niese talking to Classic FM in April 2009.
Discography
2010 - Diva
2009 - The Mozart Album
2007- Handel Arias
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Read our Danielle de Niese interview!Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. Read the transcript of our interview with Danielle here.
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Danielle de Niese VideoDanielle de Niese's new album was released on 26 July 2010. Watch the Diva in action here...
