Joyce DiDonato is on the eve of singing at the Met again

Joyce DiDonato is on the eve of singing at the Met again

Joyce DiDonato says it's a 'good habit' to sing on New Year's Eve at the Metropolitan Opera.

Diva Joyce DiDonato is hooked on spending New Year’s Eve on stage at the Metropolitan Opera.

“It’s a good habit,” she says.

Last year, DiDonato played the fantastical sorceress Sycorax, who went from near-death to glowing youth in the playful pastiche “The Enchanted Island.”

On Monday, DiDonato wraps her head and mezzo-soprano around an historical figure whose fate leads to a different end. She stars as the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots, in Donizetti’s “Maria Stuarda” (“Mary Stuart”).

“The stakes are very high in every scene,” says the Kansas-raised DiDonato. “Her life is on the line. She takes a huge emotional journey before she accepts the mantle of martyrdom.”

Before Mary’s date with the chopping block â€" she’s being led to the her execution in the final moment â€" the force of Donizetti’s lush score propels her along.

One of DiDonato’s favorite moments is Mary’s confrontation with Queen Elizabeth at the end of Act I. Mary rages at Elizabeth, declaring, “The English throne is sullied, vile bastard, by your foot.”

The other moment, in Act II, presents a 180-degree turn in tone. Mary calls people to join her a final prayer.

“Mary choreographed and owned her death,” says DiDonato. “There’s cathartis in that.”

“Maria Stuarda” runs Dec. 31-Jan. 26. On Jan. 19, it will be shown in theaters as part of the Met’s “Live in HD” series. For details: metopera.org.

jdziemianowicz@nydailynews.com