On Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3:00PM in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, 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, which still resonates 150 years after her death. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, Musical America’s 2024 Composer of the Year, created this work for renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato—whose role in Puts’ The Hours at the Metropolitan Opera was hailed as “a stunning triumph” (Variety)—and the genre-defying Time for Three trio, whose recording of Puts’s Triple Concerto won multiple Grammy Awards in 2023. Under the stage direction of Marie Lambert-Le Bihan, this ensemble of PUC fan-favorite artists embraces Dickinson’s fearless exploration of identity, society, and freedom. This is a unique opportunity to celebrate the powerful collaboration of extraordinary artists and one of the most beloved American poets. Time for Three made a memorable debut at PUC in 2012, and it is a pleasure to finally have them back. This concert is Joyce DiDonato's 6th appearance at Princeton University Concerts, and she has been a favorite performer at PUC, bringing many diverse programs to 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,” says 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.”
Remaining 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 for tickets.
The 2025-26 PUC season includes the return of many fan-favorite string players and ensembles from past seasons: violist Tabea Zimmermann (March 19, 2026), violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja (March 26, 2026), the Ébène Quartet (April 8, 2026), the Australian Chamber Orchestra (April 23, 2026), and violinist Lisa Batiashvili (April 29 and 30, 2026).
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
Multi-Grammy Award winner and 2018 Olivier Award winner for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, Kansas-born Joyce DiDonato entrances audiences across the globe, and has been proclaimed “perhaps the most potent female singer of her generation” by The New Yorker. She has towered at the top of the industry both as a performer, a producer, and a fierce advocate for the arts.
Joyce’s 25-26 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. Joyce 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. Joyce also joins the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s European tour with Yannick and this orchestra 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.
Time for Three (Tf3) is a critically acclaimed, classically trained string trio: Nicolas (Nick) Kendall (violin), Charles Yang (violin, guitar), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass). Since 2003, Time for Three has appeared alone and with symphonic and chamber orchestras all across the U.S.A. and in Europe. Their musical tastes are eclectic, ranging from classical to bluegrass to rock to jazz to hip-hop. Due to this diversity and their casual dress, the group refers to itself as a "classically trained garage band.”
The trio served as the first artists-in-residence with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for a full decade, until 2019, performing and developing programs to broaden the orchestra's audience. The trio are so frequently featured artists on NPR that they have their own Tf3 webpage there. In February 2021, Tf3 partnered with cellist and composer Ben Sollee for the soundtrack to the Focus Features' film Land, starring and directed by Robin Wright.
The trio's sixth album was released in 2022. Letters for the Future was recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Xian Zhang. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for 2023. Kevin Puts' "Contact" also won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
