Natalie Dessay

[Maciek]

Any CD recommendations? I remember someone on the old GMG (Nigel?) said that her voice doesn't come across very well on recordings? I don't think I've heard anything from her so far but would like to give a try...

[knight66]

I have some DVDs of her and enjoy her performances and it was Nigel and I who discussed the relative merits of her voice on CD. My opinion, after buying a double disc of showpieces, is that the voice is basically uningratiating. I think the tone is shallow, the colour steel.

She is a superb actress and in watching her you don't notice the sound so much.

She is Ophelia in the DVD of Hamlet, that is a superb production and a great performance.

Mike

[Harry]

I remember having a cd from here with Handel aria's, long ago, he voice was mellow then, and as lucid as a little stream.
But that changed rapidly in the years following.

[Siedler]

Alas, I have never heard her live, so I can't comment on that argument. But I do love Dessay's voice on records. Her La Musica on Haïm's L'Orfeo is ravishing. Then there's an excellent recording of Mozart arias with her, actually I prefer her Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben to Piau's (even though Piau's is wonderful).
Youtube has some clips to check out, she's a singer to watch and listen (she's a great actress).

[T-C]

Virgin Classics released lately a DVD named Natalie Dessay, Le miracle d'une voix. This voice is certainly miraculous, but Dessay should really be seen too. Her acting abilities are unique. The most impressive item on this DVD is the mad scene from Lucie de Lammermoor. Simply amazing.




Two weeks ago, the German Sat3 TV channel telecasted Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment live from the Vienna state opera. It is the already famous Laurent Pelly production, that was shown at the ROH, than in Vienna and next year at the Met. The winning team of Natelie Dessay and tenor Juan Diego Flórez were outstanding. A great moment of nostalgia is the participation of the 74 years old Montserrat Caballe. I really hope this production will be released on a commercial DVD.

Dessay in the Vieena production of  La Fille du Regiment

[MishaK]

The only Dessay recording I have is Christie's Magic Flute, where she sings the Queen. I found her coloratura quite agile, but her voice sounds forced and slightly constricted and uncomfortable in the difficult parts. I wasn't compelled by that performance to go and purchase more of her work.

[bhodges]

Virgin Classics released lately a DVD named Natalie Dessay, Le miracle d'une voix. This voice is certainly miraculous, but Dessay should really be seen too. Her acting abilities are unique. The most impressive item on this DVD is the mad scene from Lucie de Lammermoor. Simply amazing.

I would like to see this, since she is in the Met's new production of that opera.  (PS, I don't know the piece at all.)

--Bruce

[Maciek]

Thanks for your thoughts and recs, everyone!

[bhodges]

Next Sunday, I'm hearing Dessay in this very interesting concert:

The MET Orchestra
James Levine, Music Director and Conductor
Natalie Dessay, Soprano

MOZART Alcandro lo confesso...Non sò d'onde viene, K. 294
R. STRAUSS Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60
R. STRAUSS Selections from Brentano Lieder, Op. 68
·· Ich wollt' ein Sträusslein binden
·· Säusle, liebe Myrthe
·· Als mir dein Lied erklang
·· Amor
MASSENET "Je marche sur tous les chemins . . . Obéissons quand leur voix appelle" from Manon
AMBROISE THOMAS Overture to Mignon
AMBROISE THOMAS Mad Scene from Hamlet
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2

--Bruce

[knight66]

That is a pretty amazing concert. The mad scene from Hamlet is a real highlight. Let us know how it goes.

Mike

[bhodges]

Next Sunday, I'm hearing Dessay in this very interesting concert:

The MET Orchestra
James Levine, Music Director and Conductor
Natalie Dessay, Soprano

MOZART Alcandro lo confesso...Non sò d'onde viene, K. 294
R. STRAUSS Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60
R. STRAUSS Selections from Brentano Lieder, Op. 68
·· Ich wollt' ein Sträusslein binden
·· Säusle, liebe Myrthe
·· Als mir dein Lied erklang
·· Amor
MASSENET "Je marche sur tous les chemins . . . Obéissons quand leur voix appelle" from Manon
AMBROISE THOMAS Overture to Mignon
AMBROISE THOMAS Mad Scene from Hamlet
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2

--Bruce

Just got word that Dessay has canceled!     And she was more than half of the program...

Edit: here is the revised program, from Carnegie's site.  I like Michelle DeYoung...

The MET Orchestra
James Levine, Music Director and Conductor
Michelle DeYoung, Mezzo-Soprano

R. STRAUSS Der Bürger als Edelmann Suite, Op. 60
SCHOENBERG "Lied der Waldtaube" ("Song of the Wood Dove") from Gurrelieder (arr. Erwin Stein)
AMBROISE THOMAS Overture to Mignon
BERLIOZ La Mort de Cléopâtre
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2

--Bruce

[wintersway]

Any CD recommendations? I remember someone on the old GMG (Nigel?) said that her voice doesn't come across very well on recordings? I don't think I've heard anything from her so far but would like to give a try...

I find this disc most enjoyable....

[zamyrabyrd]

Two weeks ago, the German Sat3 TV channel telecasted Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment live from the Vienna state opera. It is the already famous Laurent Pelly production, that was shown at the ROH, than in Vienna and next year at the Met.

If that's the same aired on Mezzo TV, I thought it was horrible. She was particularly ungraceful and uncharming.
Such qualities endear her more to the Queen of the Night, rather a songbird with claws:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUEbgNS15dw&mode=related&search=

ZB

[Lilas Pastia]

Check this youtube video. Dessay is splendid here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd2-7T6ACCo

[Tancata]

I find this disc most enjoyable....

Yes, seconded. A lovely disc. (Although it has easily the most frightening artist photos of any CD I've ever seen  )

Emmanuelle Haïm is a great Baroque interpreter and her other collaborations with Dessay are all rather good. As mentioned above, Dessay does La Musica in Haïm's L'Orfeo and it is brilliant. She also has the lead part in Haïm's recording of Handel's Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno. Her voice is a little harsh there, but even off-form is still recommendable. That entire recording is top-quality, too... 

Dessay also features on Haïm's "Arcadian Duets" disc of Handel arias, but I haven't heard that. Wouldn't mind a few words on that, if anyone has heard it.

[Sarastro]

Les Contes d'Hoffmann  (just Olympia, but! with high...m-m-m, I don't exactly remember that note in English, it seems to be G, but sharp G, with Alagna, Vaduva, Nagano conducting), Die Zauberflöte, Lakmé, Orphée aux Enfers with beautiful Podles! And Lucie de Lammermoor. 

[Mozart]

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/aQAYnfaDvQE

[Morigan]

Her Manon DVD with Villazon is coming out on January 15th. Anyone excited?

[Mozart]

I like Dessay in baroque roles but I don't really see her in Bellini Verdi type roles. I got this cd and it wasn't so great...

[Morigan]

I agree that this newest CD isn't her best... and I don't really think she should venture into Verdi like that.

Now, I'm unsure about her baroque recordings, but her core repertoire IS Mozart, then bel canto and other mid-romantic music. Really, she only did one Baroque CD.