Natalie Dessay, the renowned French coloratura soprano, showcases her extraordinary vocal range and versatility in this captivating 2010 album, "Les Stars Du Classique: Natalie Dessay." The album is a delightful journey through some of the most celebrated arias and songs from the operatic repertoire, demonstrating Dessay's mastery of both dramatic intensity and delicate nuance.
The album opens with the enchanting "Légende de la fille" from Delibes' "Lakmé," followed by the playful "Chanson d'Olympia" from Offenbach's "Les contes d'Hoffmann." Dessay's ability to convey a wide range of emotions is evident in pieces like the haunting "Ombre légère" from Meyerbeer's "Le pardon de Ploërmel" and the heart-wrenching "Spargi d'amaro pianto" from Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor."
Mozart's arias, including the fiery "Der Hölle Rache" from "Die Zauberflöte" and the tender "Ach, ich fühl's," highlight Dessay's technical prowess and emotional depth. The album also features sacred works, such as the powerful "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" by Bach and the solemn "Kyrie" from Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor.
Dessay's interpretation of Rachmaninov's "Vocalise" and Bernstein's "Glitter and Be Gay" from "Candide" showcases her ability to bring a unique perspective to both classical and contemporary pieces. The album concludes with the traditional Russian song "Solovey" by Alyabyev, adding a touch of folk charm to this diverse collection.
With a duration of 1 hour and 16 minutes, this album is a testament to Natalie Dessay's artistry and her ability to captivate audiences with her extraordinary voice. Recorded under Parlophone (France), this collection is a must-listen for opera enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates the beauty of the human voice.
Delibes: Lakmé, Act 2: Légende de la fille "Où va la jeune Hindoue" (Lakmé)Léo Delibes, Natalie Dessay, Patrick Fournillier, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
Offenbach: Les contes d'Hoffmann, Act 2: Chanson d'Olympia. "Les oiseaux dans la charmille" (Olympia)Jacques Offenbach, Natalie Dessay, Patrick Fournillier, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
Offenbach: Orphée aux enfers, Act 2: Duo de la mouche. "Il m'a semblé sur mon épaule" (Eurydice, Jupiter)Jacques Offenbach, Marc Minkowski, Laurent Naouri, Natalie Dessay, Orchestre de Chambre de Grenoble, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon
Meyerbeer: Le pardon de Ploërmel, Act 2: Air. "Ombre légère qui suis mes pas" (Dinorah)Giacomo Meyerbeer, Natalie Dessay, Patrick Fournillier, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
Verdi: I vespri siciliani, Act 5 Scene 2: "Mercé, dilette amiche" (Elena)Giuseppe Verdi, Natalie Dessay, Evelino Pidò, Concerto Köln
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, Act 2: Arie. "Der Hölle Rache" (Königin der Nacht)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Natalie Dessay, Louis Langrée, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, Act 2: Arie. "Ach, ich fühl's" (Pamina)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Natalie Dessay, Louis Langrée, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor, K. 427: I. KyrieWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Louis Langrée, Le Concert d'Astrée, Natalie Dessay
Bach, JS: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51: No. 1, Aria. "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen"Johann Sebastian Bach, Natalie Dessay, Neil Brough, Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert d'Astrée
Monteverdi: Madrigali guerrieri, et amorosi: Lamento della ninfa, SV 163Claudio Monteverdi, Emmanuelle Haïm, Christopher Purves, Le Concert d'Astrée, Natalie Dessay, Simon Wall, Topi Lehtipuu
Strauss, R: Brentano Lieder, Op. 68: No. 5, Amor (Version with Orchestra)Richard Strauss, Natalie Dessay, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano
Rachmaninov: 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 14, VocaliseSergei Rachmaninoff, Natalie Dessay, Michael Schønwandt, Berliner Symphoniker
Alyabyev: SoloveyAlexander Alyabyev, Natalie Dessay, Michael Schønwandt, Berliner Symphoniker
Bernstein: Candide, Act 1: "Glitter and Be Gay" (Cunégonde)Leonard Bernstein, Natalie Dessay, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Davis