Country

:

France

Birth

:

April 19, 1965 in Lyon, France

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Natalie Dessay is a French soprano who is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished classical music artists of her generation. Born on April 19, 1965, in Lyon, France, Dessay grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to classical music from a young age. Her mother was a singer and her father was a pianist, and they encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Dessay began her formal training in music at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, where she studied voice and piano. She later continued her studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, where she trained under the guidance of renowned vocal coach Michel Sénéchal. During her time at the Conservatoire de Paris, Dessay won several awards and prizes, including the First Prize in the International Mozart Competition in Vienna in 1991. Dessay made her professional debut in 1992, when she was cast as Olympia in Jacques Offenbach's opera "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" at the Opéra Bastille in Paris. Her performance was widely praised by critics and audiences alike, and it marked the beginning of a long and successful career in opera. Over the years, Dessay has performed in some of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Vienna State Opera. She has also collaborated with some of the most renowned conductors and musicians of our time, including Daniel Barenboim, Plácido Domingo, and Philippe Jordan. One of Dessay's most notable performances was her portrayal of the title role in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Metropolitan Opera in 2007. Her performance was widely acclaimed by critics, who praised her for her vocal agility and dramatic intensity. The New York Times called her performance "a triumph of vocal and dramatic artistry." Dessay has also made a name for herself as a recitalist and concert performer. She has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2008, she released an album of French art songs titled "Claude Nougaro: La Note Bleue," which was widely praised by critics and earned her a Victoire de la Musique award. Throughout her career, Dessay has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. In 2008, she was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, one of France's highest honors, for her services to the arts. She has also been awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera and the Echo Klassik Award for Female Singer of the Year. Despite her many accomplishments, Dessay has faced some challenges in her career. In 2013, she announced that she would be retiring from opera due to vocal problems. However, she has continued to perform in recitals and concerts, and has also taken on new challenges, such as acting in films and plays. Today, Natalie Dessay is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and versatile classical music artists of her generation. Her vocal agility, dramatic intensity, and musical sensitivity have earned her a devoted following and a place among the greats of classical music.

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