No wonder that I cried when I was in the audience of this production. You could not hear a fly... It was so opressive... Natalie made me cry, really, but my friends as well, who are not opera addicts as I am. I remember one turning to me and saying that she had tears and could not imagine that to happen... I am quite proud to have brought to them that incredible sensation opera can give ! And I agree with you, Adam's "Pâle et blode" melody is a masterpiece...
God! So many times in her life she has finished an aria and been met with an explosion of cheers and applause. So many. And yet, although she is extremely serious about what she does, she shows no trace of arrogance. Only straightforward friendliness to virtually everyone with whom she comes in contact.
hear the heartbreak... tears are running down my face... her voice is soaring... floating, iam in this dream with Ophelia... you cant help but be captivated... Dessay IS Ophelia
I love the part at 5:20 when she holds the blanket like the child that she will never have...such an incredible performance, probably the best that has ever been done.
I have recordings of Joan Sutherland and Kathleen Battle singing this piece. Both have the technical aspects down pat and do a convincing job. But neither of them come close to Natalie's performance in terms of sheer heartbreak and emotion. It really did bring tears to my eyes, both because of her musicality and incredible acting. Superb!
Absolutely astounding, best Ophelie ever. And you are so very right, Muezzab: with her intense acting, Dessay turns this strange aria, that often sounds too cheerful to be suicidal, into a true scene of despair. Thank you very much for posting!
I think this moment is one of the operatic miracle of the past 10 years. What a voice, what emotion!! Even if some criticize is current voice, she definitely left a mark in opera.
I am also devastated that I will miss seeing Natalie at the Met in Hamlet. My son (a college student) & I have been waiting for a year to see her live! But, her health comes first. We wish you well, Natalie, and I know all your many fans wish you the best. Thanks to these videotapes - your acting & singing have given us all so much joy!
Well, Natalie is one of my favourites... have heard her life in Vienna (as Amina in La sonnambula) and twice in New York (as Julia in Romeo&Julitte) and she was just GREAT! Have also heard Gruberova in this aria in concert and was fantastic! This aria is very difficult, the high notes are not just there (as in belcanto many times) but the express feelings... and Natalie shows it, she knows what she sings! BRAVAAAA!
it's true she ruined her voice but the fact is that maybe it was worth it.....I mean if Natalie didn't give her all back then, Im sure she wouldn't be today the Dessay we all know...this woman has given the 100% of her heart and even today (with what remains of the greatnes of her voice) she is still trying very hard..I love her
I always go back to this video to remember how great Dessay was before her voice was damaged, and before she sang parts, like Lucia, that are too heavy for her.
to DandP: She has recorded up to an A-flat above High C. See her recording of Mozart Concert Arias, and her rendition of the Doll from Tales of Hoffman, of which there is a video here on youtube. See the one set in the insane asylum, it's one of the most amazing things I've EVER heard and seen.
I feel that when natalie sets foot on the stage, she disappears....and then the character who she is interpretating takes her place....the woman on the stage in this video is not natalie Dessay....it is Ophelia herself
I love this artist, for me she's the best... I like very much that she comes at Bordea&ux in France for a recital or an opera.. so i love and brava la dessay!!!
Second half of translation: The air is veiled, goodbye, white stars, goodbye sky, goodbye sweet friend! Happy wife in the arms of her groom! My soul is jealous of such a sweet happiness! Under the sleepy tide, ah, forever, goodbye my sweet friend! Ah, dearest groom, dearest love! Ah, sweet vow, tender oath! Happiness supreme! Ah, cruel one, I love you! Ah, cruel one, you see my tears! For you I die!
the Milanese have a peculiar way of showing their appreciation - and their expert knowledge ha-bloody-ha by booing even La Callas. If I remember correctly Alagna stormed off the stage there after he got his share and left his understudy to sing in jeans and shirt (if the pressreport is right which it seldom is, but it's a great story anyway).
@PierreAlexandreRavet Bien sur qu'il s'agit d'un contre-fa# et pas d'un contre-la (on se demande ce que viendrait faire un la dans un accord de dominante de si majeur).
Someone's truly mad...madly captivated by Natalie's amazing voice and acting! (btw I didn't know tenors sang up to F-sharps three octaves above middle C...?)
@isabelbleuet si vous parlez de la note finale tenue, c'est un contre-la :) Il n'y a pas de contre-fa dans cet air, des contre-mi et ce sublime contre-la ajouté par Natalie Dessay au sommet de son art! :D
Your statements are pretty damn ignorant. a. Dessay's "unattractive, weak, and childish" voice, not to mention her incredulous virtuosity and musicianship, have given her a stellar career (that you'll never have with that attitude.) b. Her acting has put her at the forefront of a new theatrical movement in opera. c. La Scala is notorious for its incredibly polarized, picky audience. Hundreds of the world's best singers have been booed there, so your insult doesn't have much ground.
@Kivimusic off pitch around 5:55 for a few seconds. BTW Sutherland gets stunning results without verismo overacting. She and Callas do it through the voice and music.
il faut vraiment tout l'art de N Dessay pour rendre intéressante cette musique plutôt mal foutue et ce texte insupportable.J'adore l'opéra mais là vraiment c'est dur !
Clearly a great performer. No doubt of that. However if you close your eyes there is such a lot of shrillness and steam whistle top notes! Not an ingratiating voice for me at least.
In my opinion, Natalie Dessay in this video comes as close to perfection as I have ever heard and seen. Incredible. She breaks my heart.
No wonder that I cried when I was in the audience of this production. You could not hear a fly... It was so opressive...
Natalie made me cry, really, but my friends as well, who are not opera addicts as I am. I remember one turning to me and saying that she had tears and could not imagine that to happen... I am quite proud to have brought to them that incredible sensation opera can give !
And I agree with you, Adam's "Pâle et blode" melody is a masterpiece...
God! So many times in her life she has finished an aria and been met with an explosion of cheers and applause. So many. And yet, although she is extremely serious about what she does, she shows no trace of arrogance. Only straightforward friendliness to virtually everyone with whom she comes in contact.
This brought tears to my eyes.
Beautiful, well articulated, moving.
Astounding.
hear the heartbreak... tears are running down my face... her voice is soaring... floating, iam in this dream with Ophelia... you cant help but be captivated... Dessay IS Ophelia
Every superlative I can think of is inadequate to describe this performance. Brilliant, breathtaking, stunning -- I'm speechless!
I love the part at 5:20 when she holds the blanket like the child that she will never have...such an incredible performance, probably the best that has ever been done.
I have recordings of Joan Sutherland and Kathleen Battle singing this piece. Both have the technical aspects down pat and do a convincing job. But neither of them come close to Natalie's performance in terms of sheer heartbreak and emotion. It really did bring tears to my eyes, both because of her musicality and incredible acting. Superb!
This is the most incredible thing I have ever heard..Tears are puring down my face from the beauty of it.
Now THAT'S why she considers herself a "singing actress"! Perfection, on all levels!
Absolutely astounding, best Ophelie ever. And you are so very right, Muezzab: with her intense acting, Dessay turns this strange aria, that often sounds too cheerful to be suicidal, into a true scene of despair. Thank you very much for posting!
I think this moment is one of the operatic miracle of the past 10 years. What a voice, what emotion!! Even if some criticize is current voice, she definitely left a mark in opera.
Her voice and demeanor simply make a perfect Ophelia.
Well.....What can be said? That was BRILLIANT! Acting, vocals, drama, i'm done, I need a cig. lol. BRAVA Dessay!
I am also devastated that I will miss seeing Natalie at the Met in Hamlet. My son (a college student) & I have been waiting for a year to see her live! But, her health comes first. We wish you well, Natalie, and I know all your many fans wish you the best. Thanks to these videotapes - your acting & singing have given us all so much joy!
magnificent. her legato is just incredible. acting, musicality.... she loses herself. its great. LOVE YOU NATALIE. YIOU ARE THE BEAST!
It's so beautiful and creepy at the same time..
This is ridiculous, she is perfect!!!!!
Well, Natalie is one of my favourites... have heard her life in Vienna (as Amina in La sonnambula) and twice in New York (as Julia in Romeo&Julitte) and she was just GREAT! Have also heard Gruberova in this aria in concert and was fantastic! This aria is very difficult, the high notes are not just there (as in belcanto many times) but the express feelings... and Natalie shows it, she knows what she sings! BRAVAAAA!
Saw her performed the same opera with the same producer and conductor in Toulouse in 2000 or 2001, absolutely perfect!
Great voice, wonderful rendition, BRAVA !!!
it's true she ruined her voice but the fact is that maybe it was worth it.....I mean if Natalie didn't give her all back then, Im sure she wouldn't be today the Dessay we all know...this woman has given the 100% of her heart and even today (with what remains of the greatnes of her voice) she is still trying very hard..I love her
io mi chiedo come fa a non piacere??? ma stiamo scherzando? è perfetta in tutto!
She's UMBELIVEVABLE.
What a wonderful!
I always go back to this video to remember how great Dessay was before her voice was damaged, and before she sang parts, like Lucia, that are too heavy for her.
to DandP: She has recorded up to an A-flat above High C. See her recording of Mozart Concert Arias, and her rendition of the Doll from Tales of Hoffman, of which there is a video here on youtube. See the one set in the insane asylum, it's one of the most amazing things I've EVER heard and seen.
Ohmygod. Elle est fabuleuse.
I feel that when natalie sets foot on the stage, she disappears....and then the character who she is interpretating takes her place....the woman on the stage in this video is not natalie Dessay....it is Ophelia herself
I love this artist, for me she's the best... I like very much that she comes at Bordea&ux in France for a recital or an opera.. so i love and brava la dessay!!!
Has anybody found one little mistake? I didn't. It's perfect.
Phenomenal on all levels! I also heard Annick Massis perform this role beautifully in Geneva last year.
Second half of translation:
The air is veiled, goodbye, white stars, goodbye sky, goodbye sweet friend!
Happy wife in the arms of her groom!
My soul is jealous of such a sweet happiness!
Under the sleepy tide, ah, forever, goodbye my sweet friend! Ah, dearest groom, dearest love!
Ah, sweet vow, tender oath!
Happiness supreme! Ah, cruel one, I love you!
Ah, cruel one, you see my tears! For you I die!
holy shit i don't think i've ever heard such a high note sang that way. amazing. does anybody know what her range is?
Superb!!!!, The best Ofelia ever!!!!!
OMG Oups! Sorry THOMAS' "Pâle et blonde" ! (why was I thinking of Adam???)
the Milanese have a peculiar way of showing their appreciation - and their expert knowledge ha-bloody-ha by booing even La Callas. If I remember correctly Alagna stormed off the stage there after he got his share and left his understudy to sing in jeans and shirt (if the pressreport is right which it seldom is, but it's a great story anyway).
@PierreAlexandreRavet Bien sur qu'il s'agit d'un contre-fa# et pas d'un contre-la (on se demande ce que viendrait faire un la dans un accord de dominante de si majeur).
Someone's truly mad...madly captivated by Natalie's amazing voice and acting!
(btw I didn't know tenors sang up to F-sharps three octaves above middle C...?)
Show! Adorei mesmo, emocionante!
oh my goodness that is an F# she reaches at 7:23!!!!
@isabelbleuet si vous parlez de la note finale tenue, c'est un contre-la :) Il n'y a pas de contre-fa dans cet air, des contre-mi et ce sublime contre-la ajouté par Natalie Dessay au sommet de son art! :D
Is this before or after she had the surgery for nodes? Just curious.
@chebellamelodia This was about a year or two before.
Miracle de voix,mais sur tout de souffrance comme Ophelie
was the last high note an F# ??
Exemplary and superlative!
It's called "Les Oiseaux dans la charmille"
wao.... ='''
i got the kind of sensation as if you were suddenly all petrified and cold...if you know what i mean :S O.O
anyone wanna translate to english for me :) ?!? i know the story of hamlet well but i just wonder exactly what it means it sounds beautiful
@Lecafeconcert Un contre-la ? pourtant on entend bien un contre-fa# ... Peut-être est-ce dû à l'enregistrement lui-même.
inégalable.
davvero unica!!!
Exactly what is your musical training?
unica!
yup
How is she off pitch? You have to keep in mind that she walking down steps.
She sings like a tenor
Every one here heard of her
if only she could still sound like this
Your statements are pretty damn ignorant.
a. Dessay's "unattractive, weak, and childish" voice, not to mention her incredulous virtuosity and musicianship, have given her a stellar career (that you'll never have with that attitude.)
b. Her acting has put her at the forefront of a new theatrical movement in opera.
c. La Scala is notorious for its incredibly polarized, picky audience. Hundreds of the world's best singers have been booed there, so your insult doesn't have much ground.
@Kivimusic off pitch around 5:55 for a few seconds. BTW Sutherland gets stunning results without verismo overacting. She and Callas do it through the voice and music.
@sebastien1chartry , excusez-moi, mais c'est un contre fa-dièse...
Ok...I'm not a Dessay fan, but this is a fantastic interpretation, vocally. Her acting, though, I've never once liked.
il faut vraiment tout l'art de N Dessay pour rendre intéressante cette musique plutôt mal foutue et ce texte insupportable.J'adore l'opéra mais là vraiment c'est dur !
Clearly a great performer. No doubt of that. However if you close your eyes there is such a lot of shrillness and steam whistle top notes! Not an ingratiating voice for me at least.
Natalie no es humana o realmente es la unica que lo es