On Sunday, February 22, at 3 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) presents the New Jersey premiere of Emily — No Prisoner Be. This semi-staged song cycle is inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poetry.
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts created this work for mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and the Time for Three trio. Under the stage direction of Marie Lambert-Le Bihan, this ensemble of PUC artists embraces Dickinson’s fearless exploration of identity, society, and freedom. Time for Three made a debut at PUC in 2012. This concert is DiDonato›s sixth appearance on the series.
“Dickinson’s beautifully spare poetry, combined with Joyce DiDonato’s iconic voice and the innovative music of Time for Three create a timeless musical experience,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “More than simply a concert, this event will transcend the boundaries of form and draw upon the gifts of Emily Dickinson and these fantastic artists to connect us to truth, beauty, and humanity.”
DiDonato’s 2025-26 season includes concerts for the Minnesota Orchestra and Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain, as well as re-opening Powell Hall with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in a Kevin Puts’ World Premiere, House of Tomorrow. She returns to Musikkollegium Winterthur for a performance of Rachel Portman’s Another Eve and collaborates with Radio France for Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder in Paris and Dijon. Concert appearances include Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with Nézet-Séguin and the Berlin Philharmoniker. DiDonato also joins the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s European tour with Nezet-Seguin following a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 at Carnegie Hall.
Emily — No Prisoner Be, a commissioned song cycle written by Kevin Puts for Joyce and the Grammy Award-winning string trio, Time For Three, featuring the poetry of Emily Dickinson, made its debut at Bregenzer Festspiele in August 2025 and will be performed in Kansas City, Chicago, and Carnegie Hall, in addition to its debut at Princeton University Concerts.
Tickets to this special event ($43-$73 General/$16 Student) are expected to sell quickly; patrons are encouraged to buy them soon. Reduced cost tickets are available for those who qualify for PUC’s Admit All ticket access program for low-income patrons. Visit puc.princeton.edu or call (609) 258-9220.