Joyce DiDonato and Time for Three: Emily – No Prisoner Be

Emily – No Prisoner Be is a 24-part song cycle by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, setting the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Written for Grammy Award-winning artists Joyce DiDonato and genre-defying ensemble Time for Three. Emily is a powerful meeting of voices across centuries—each one distinct, yet in perfect harmony.

With music which feels at once familiar and new, brimming with energy, passion, and an undeniable chemistry between the performers. Emily Dickinson’s poetry and Puts’ music feel as if they have always belonged together.

The stage and lighting design by Andrew Staples envelop the audience in a timeless, ethereal world—strikingly simple yet deeply evocative. His design draws us further into Dickinson’s mind with subtle shifts of light and shadow, allowing the poetry and music to resonate.

Emily will receive its world premiere at the Bregenzer Festspiele on 14 and 16 August 2025. The studio album will be released in January 2026.

The creation of Emily – No Prisoner Be was made possible by the Lead Commissioner, Bregenzer Festspiele and Co-Commissioners Carnegie Hall and Cal Performances at University of California, Berkeley.

We are thrilled to partner with the Emily Dickinson International Society for this project.