Donizetti: Maria Stuarda
 Live at the Metropolitan Opera, 2013
 Joyce DiDonato (Maria Stuarda), Elza van den Heever (Elisabetta), Matthew Rose (Talbot), Joshua Hopkins (Cecil), Matthew Polenzani (Leicester), Maria Zifchak (Anna Kennedy)
 The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Maurizio Benini

Presto Classical David Smith
“Scotland really did fire the imagination of the great bel canto composers, and though it's about as historically accurate as The Tudors, Donizetti's treatment of the final days of Mary Queen of Scots is a masterpiece of the genre, seen in here a 2013 Met production with a fine sense of local colour by the Scottish director David McVicar. Joyce DiDonato is the doomed queen, with Elza ven der Heever as her rival Elizabeth I; Maurizio Benini conducts.”

Opera Now *****
“The mezzo might not have the optimal luxury of tone for the role but she more than compensates with the most vocally adept and dramatically detailed performance. Her coloratura is always meaningful (as well as pinpoint accurate) and her sense of line immaculate...Benini conducts idiomatically and David McVicar’s large-scale but simple production is effective.”

Gramophone Magazine July 2014
“Elza van der Heever is quite brilliant as she moves from skittish to jealous, contemptuous and baleful. The three men are all good...DiDonato is an absolute knock-out...spellbinding through a perfect combination of singing and acting. Maurizio Benini conducts impeccably.”

The Telegraph 10th July 2014 *****
“One might have guessed that she could sing this demandingly florid and intensely lyrical music with crystalline Italian diction, impeccable technical security and dazzling stylistic finesse, but the fierce ardent passion she brings might surprise those who have only heard her in lighter histrionic fare. Even those with indelible memories of Janet Baker in this part will be blown away.”

BBC Music Magazine ***
“handsomely designed...well acted and strongly sung. Elza van der Heever delivers a statuesque Elizabeth, if with tomboyish tendencies...DiDonato offers a physically plain, emotionally determined martyr-monarch, her singing closely and impressively aligned with the character's emotional journey...Benini rises above routine to bring flexibility to his conducting.”