Soprano Natalie Dessay was likely one of the greatest opera actors that the world has ever known. Born on April 19, 1965, she had always intended to be an actress and ballet dancer, but then turned her attention to singing and studied at the Université de Bordeaux. Thereafter, she won the International Mozart Competition in Vienna and was subsequently engaged {…}
How do you go mad on stage? That is a question one might ask a soprano or a tenor when they are performing these complicated scenes on stage. There are multiple answers and each performer will undoubtedly have a different answer. It may be with a simple look or subtle movement. Or, it may be with unpredictability on stage, shocking {…}
On Nov. 17, Sony Classical will be digitally releasing “Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Woman.” The album, first conceived for Barbara Streisand almost 45 years ago by composer Michel Legrand, will follow Natalie Dessay through a story that spans from birth to death while capturing all the beauty therein. According to the New York Times, {…}
For years Natalie Dessay dominated the operatic scene with her charisma, acting chops, and virtuosic voice. But in 2013, the French soprano quit the operatic scene and dedicated herself to recitals, plays, and musicals. The soprano has been outspoken for her displeasure of the opera world and her critics have noted that she no longer had a voice to sing {…}
Natalie Dessay may have retired from the opera stage, but her art continues to live on. And while she admits to never having felt comfortable on the stage, her performances show otherwise. Born on April 19, 1965, OperaWire takes a look at some of her unforgettable roles on stage. Olympia in ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann’ The role of Olympia was perhaps the {…}
During a promotion of her new album with works by Schubert, Natalie Dessay has spoken up about her views on the operatic world. During an interview with Forum Opera, the soprano noted that she never felt comfortable in opera and she felt that the art form was one of the past. “I often felt a bit out of place, because {…}
While there are only two new releases this week, Natalie Dessay fans will definitely be in for a surprise with her return to classical music. Natalie Dessay’ “Schubert” The eponymous soprano Natalie Dessay returns to the classical repertoire with her second album for Sony Classical. This time she takes on Schubert songs with pianist Phillippe Cassard. Some of the pieces {…}
On Dec. 31 Diana Damrau will make her role debut as Juliette in Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” in a special New Year’s Eve gala at the Metropolitan Opera. The occasion will also mark the premiere of Bartlett Sher’s acclaimed staging from the Salzburg Festival. With such a momentous occasion Operawire takes a look at past Juliettes who have graced the {…}
Polish tenor Piotr Beczala was born on this day, December 28, exactly 50 years ago. In celebration of the tenor’s big day, Operawire shares 50 facts about the operatic superstar. Piotr Beczala was born on Dec. 28, 1966. He is from Czechowice-Dziedzice in southern Poland. He studied under Sena Jurinac in Switzerland. He is married to Katarzyna Beczała. Beczala is known for choosing his roles wisely {…}
Mozart was a huge hit throughout his short career and his great success has continued in 2016 in the form of 1.25 million international CD sales of Deutsche Grammophon’s “Mozart 225: The Complete Edition” in a whopping five weeks since its release. The boxset, made up of 200-CD’s and encompassing every single work ever created by the composer, was released {…}