No Prisoner Be: Joyce DiDonato and Time for Three

Joyce DiDonato is the artist in residence at the Chicago Symphony, and Time for Three is a group I have been following for years because of their unique crossover between genres. I had to make the trip for these performers. When I bought the ticket, I only vaguely knew of Kevin Puts through the concerto he wrote for Time for Three, but had never listened to the song cycle that was to be performed that night. Puts is an accomplished composer who has won a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy. The work is a song cycle set to the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

Program

• Kevin Puts: No Prisoner Be — Song cycle on texts by Emily Dickinson

1. They shut me up
2. I was the slightest in the House –
3. The Soul selects her own Society
4. Again – his voice is at the door –
5. Interlude No. 1
6. I dwell in Possibility
7. Because I could not stop for Death –
8. A bee I personally knew (Bee Scherzo No. 1)
9. I Felt a Funeral
10. I reason, Earth is short –
11. A little Snow
12. I tie my Hat – I crease my Shawl
13. “Hope” is the thing
14. Interlude No. 2
15. The Props assist the House
16. There is a solitude of space
17. Could I but ride indefinite (Bee Scherzo No. 2)
18. So set its Sun in Thee
19. Her face
20. Tell Her
21. His Feet are shod with Gauze – (Bee Scherzo No. 3)
22. Wild Nights!
23. There is another sky
24. ‘Tis true – They shut me in the Cold –
25. If I can stop one Heart from breaking (On Praetorius “Lo How a Rose e’er Blooming”)
26. No Prisoner be –

Notes & reactions

The evening began with an interactive component where the ushers handed out paper and asked the audience to write down their own poem. I thought it was a nice exercise, even though my own poetry writing skills are awful. The venue took on a more contemporary approach: the Symphony Center stage was decorated with white fabric, lights, and a desk at the center. The opening number had Joyce appearing from the back of the hall and making her way onto the stage, with the lights going dark for a moment during her entrance. I appreciated this theatrical approach to the music. It felt like a staged, modern song cycle rather than a traditional recital.

Another point worth noting: Time for Three sings alongside Joyce while also playing their instruments, which made for a unique and layered color palette. I expected the show to be mostly a spotlight for the singer, but several Bee Scherzos were catchy and showcased the trio’s virtuosic capabilities. One of the violinists also switched to viola at key moments, and the darker C-string resonance was striking. I also appreciated the use of the “chop” bowing technique, which is not a sound you typically hear in classical music. Puts’ credentials felt well earned, and this piece made me appreciate the work of Emily Dickinson in a different light.

At the end of the concert, it turned out that Kevin Puts was in the audience — a surprise for the artists, who called him onto the stage for an encore of the piece. The encore turned into a sing-along, and it was an incredible experience, something that felt almost like a religious gathering. After the concert there was a meet and greet, which I happily attended. While waiting, someone in the crowd pulled off a marriage proposal, and amazingly, Time for Three came out and played along. The clip is below.

Although this was not part of the concert itself, I appreciated the chance to hear the group perform so spontaneously and up close. As a violinist, I know how incredibly difficult it is to keep that level of ensemble cohesion in the moment. The audience went wild and poured support to the newly engaged couple.

Following the proposal, I got to meet Time for Three, Kevin Puts, and Joyce DiDonato. All of them were generous and radiated passion for music. My conversation with Kevin centered on how he decided between violin and viola in certain sections, which came down to the choice of using a C string for its resonance. Although he is a pianist by training, I was genuinely impressed by this — it had never occurred to me that this was a decision worth deliberating. Talking to Joyce, I most appreciated her humility: she said it looks much harder than it is to sing what she performed.

Closing thoughts

This was an extraordinary evening where I got to experience a completely novel color palette and composition. The cherry on top was being able to interact with the artists and feel their passion for the work that they presented.