Natalie Dessay performs "Spargi d'amaro pianto"

[JulienR01]

She is very good, beautiful voice...nothing else to say...It's beautiful !

[MrAndredekock]

A bit labored and the trill doesn't work, but then who could ever trill like Sills?

[federricoilgrande]

mi spiace ma non trovo nulla di ben fatto qui ::))

[shirly961]

I would let her blow me!

[presto39]

@shirly961 why not just continue blowing yourself.

[hymnofashes]

@shirly961 What a generous accomodation. You should get in touch with her agent, I'm sure she wouldn't pass it up.

[09avenger]

This is a HORRIBLE, VOICELESS, and pathetic acting! This is a complete overkill, aiming to compensate fro the lack of voice!!! TERRIBLE!!!

[kinakina123123]

Dessay was great.

People seem to be arguing about how many tiny degrees away from perfection she is. Gee I wish I had that sort of problem!

The thing about Dessay is that she always gets better as she pushes the interpretation envelope and tries to give the complete performance.

It is people like Dessay that can get people to love opera.

[hymnofashes]

@kinakina123123 No matter how well Dessay sings, she'll never be in the same class as the idiots who bitch about her on youTube. If only they would post their own attempts, they'd doubtless blow Natalie out of the water, but they're too busy being awesome to do that.

[peque1204]

@kinakina123123

[freewill51]

Geddy Lee is much better! Listen to freewill, 3/4 through, where he goes into "Sounds of Salesmen" In high 2C. Blows out the christmas tree lights every time. See, I can sound smart, too. I hope the responses below were not left by "men"

[acefireburst]

Hahahaha! Freewill51 XD.

Thats what I love about Rush fans. They will do anything to convince you that Rush is THEE best band in the world lol. Love it.

[saigoners]

Brava Natalie!

[thunderboltful]

brava natalie!!!!!!!!!!!

[filaredo]

You're right! It happens to me all the time.

[FoxyGrandpa]

This is Donizetti, buddy.

[leoperarm]

Dessay's voice is one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard (Ab6 to B3), now, that's something! Sustaining wonderful high notes and maintaining impecable middle and lower registers, that's what Dessay's voice means (we can't say the same about your beloved Mrs. Netrebko). Well, If you think Dessay is phisically unattractive, you'll have to take a look at your beloved Netrebko, which is not so beautiful now, as she has fattened like a pig, get a life :DDDD

[leoperarm]

Are you saying that you like untrained, "natural" singers? I like a good voice and a good training, I love bel canto, technique that can make a beautiful sounding singer capable of knowing his/her own register and adapting the voice to different dramatic situations WITHOUT screaming a single note and moving easiliy through the score, staying tuned all the time, If one can do that, of course I'll appreciate this person as a real, good singer.

[flaze3]

@aklev77 idiot. It is all about technique. That is what makes one's voice beautiful. If you criticise one for not having a naturally beautiful voice, you might as well blame dwarfs for being short.

[MelWolff]

@leoperarm XD heheh yeah Netrebko its sooo fat now!! that i can't really believe that she was so beautiful before, but she is not bad singer, she is different, has a great dramatic voice. There's arias that fits well in her voice than others...but she is not bad

[leoperarm]

@MelWolff yes she is not bad, I some time ago encountered some people that continuously attacked dessay for Netrebko, so I did the same to my shame :-/ she is not bad, but I only like her on verismo ^^

[lalia2001]

Glass harmonica, as it was writtten.

[powrpuff]

I like Dessay but her vibrattos here remind me of an engine horsepower.

[nicevidbro]

It's funny how people like to mark all the bad things on a singer, instead of appreciating the good things...

[operaspark]

I'm very dissapointed with this. I normally like Dessay, but here her voice sounds horrible and she struggles througout the entire aria.

[Hako2004]

I never said Sutherland was only great at her debuts....I said her Lucia debut was stupendous. She was stupendous for many years.....which is evident by the written words of prominent music critics and fans who heard her LIVE. Today, when musical scholars and historians are asked to name the greatest sopranos of the last century, two names are always at the top of the list....Callas and Sutherland. I totally agree, Maria and Joan were the most important sopranos of the last century.

[Hako2004]

Here's a reality check on Ponselle. A great artist, very highly regarded in her prime. But she was already in decline by her mid-thirties. She was occasionally drubbed by critics regarding her weakening upper register by age 35. Sutherland's upper register remained strong until she was in her sixties. Ponselle rarely sang outside the U.S. She sang a handful of roles, perhaps twenty. Sutherland's enormous repertoire and international career totally eclipsed Ponselle's.

[Simdaperce]

I agree with what you said to some degree. Sutherland's voice had an impressive longevity - although she was really stupenda only at her debuts as you said. But I don't form notions based on audio recordings because you perfectly know that if Sutherland had lived and sung at the time of Ponselle or Patti, her rare records would have given only a microscopic outline of her real voice.

[Simdaperce]

However I am just 19 and I know that such singers are from a bygone era because they sang in an old-fashioned way. And that is why people won't remember Sutherland in 100 years because she does sing in a 60's way. I'm not against comparisons if they are relevant. Of course Sutherland was wonderful and Dessay doesn't have such a voice. But the real great singers are the timeless ones. So last - but not least - comparison, La Callas is the eternal goddess of modern opera.

[jroxbaby]

@Simdaperce Sorry, but as a singer in training I have to say Sutherland and the other greats were not taught in a 60's (or any modern era) style. She was taught the Bel Canto method which has been producing amazing singers for centuries. The styles of productions may change but beautiful vocal technique is universal regardless of when it is taught or performed. There is no such thing as dated technique; just the good and the bad.

[Windgrace]

I can't STAND the comparisons between opera singers. Callas was amazing, but she is dead. Joan Sutherland no longer performs. Just because these people stopped singing, doesn't mean that no one else should sing these songs. Plus, it's all a matter of taste. Natalie TOTALLY makes Joan Sutherland look like a singing cardboard box when it comes to acting. I watched Natalie last night at the SF opera house and she was divine!

[frenchroastplus]

Yes Natalie was fantastic in SF (as she was at the Met and at O'Bastille,

Yes I assume that comparing one singer to an other gives people the sense of having some kind of expertise. Kind of like when people give compare a Lamborgini to a Ferrari while they'll drive a Saturn.

[AlejandraDark]

it must be the best comment ever.

lol!

[presto39]

@frenchroastplus VERY well said my friend.

[hymnofashes]

Yes, that's it exactly.

[Hako2004]

You obviously never saw the young Sutherland's first performances at Covent Garden....or even the videos. She moved with amazing fleetness of foot, acted well, and sang with super-human speed and accuracy. You're right about one thing, Natalie is the better actress. That said, these women made their money as SINGERS, not actors. Sutherland would have made a superior olympic weight lifter than Dessay.....so what, that's not her profession either.

[yiudiumui]

she's shit compared to sutherland

[Simdaperce]

and Sutherland was shit compared to Ponselle, Melba and others. Stop your useless comparisons.

[yiudiumui]

im sorry if she's shit compared to others. maybe she's shit by herself 2. well dessay was good but her voice now is horrible

[Hako2004]

I've heard Melba's recordings.....wasn't very impressed. Did Ponselle sing 55 roles on stage? Ponselle was great in her time, but she couldn't do what Dame Joan could. Besides, aren't you making useless comparisons, while telling others not to? You must be a sentimental 8O year old to compare those sopranos from a by-gone era to Sutherland.

[eradesso]

What's your point? Sutherland was shit compared to Dessay as Lakmé, Queen of the Night (which Sutherland trasnposed DOWN!), Ophelie, Morgana/Alcina, Olympia etc so what's your point?

Two different voices that only partially crossed repertoires can't be really compared (did Sutherland excel as Zerbinetta as Dessay did?!)

[raymzi]

i think she lacks the technique that this role requires.. like agility. not to lambast her or anything..i love her hamlet and her alcina... but lucia...i think requires agility and flexibility...which she doesnt show in this version.

[forallyouknow]

I think coloratura sopranos ought to keep away from this role. I'm not so bigoted as to think that Dessay's performance has no merit to it, because her technique is flawless, and there are some parts that cut the drama fairly well, but really, the lack of dramatic color causes the aria to lose some of its effect.

[tjonesmusicman]

i'm sorry but Joan Sutherland is way better

[ehasl]

Natalie Dessay looks better...

[DessayBestSinger]

hahaha!

[DessayBestSinger]

Did you know that this 'Spargi d'amaro pianto' is exactly the sams than the one I uploaded (filmed)?

[FoxyGrandpa]

Yes, but I uploaded this the day after it was performed, so it's been up for some time now.

[DessayBestSinger]

I know that :-P

[serenaf63]

She is one of the best coloratura =p

[Sesto73]

...she WAS one of the best lyric coloraturas!

[DessayBestActress]

Isn't she a lyric coloratura soprano anymore?

[minkoss]

I thought there was lyric soprano and coloratura soprano! and she's a coloratura

[Ichichan0326]

I don't understand how anyone can say she "sucks." She's incredible, and while you may not like her that doesn't mean she "sucks."

[JuillHope17]

there are things about her that suck. and actually, in some ways this does. she overdoes everything vocally because she tries to make up for her vocal and dramatic shortcomings, and she has those because of all the terrible things she's done to her voice in order to keep singing. and her vocal shaping is terrible. french seeps into her italian all of the time, and her italian is already bad. her new itlian arias album is a joke, and if you don't believe me, get it. really: she's a little sucky.

[meforopera]

Brava Natalie, truly Amazing bel canto singing, makes my heart beat faster!:)

[ejrouge]

She is a little "extra light" for my taste.

[superhunk01]

She's an even better ACTRESS than Sutherland. Sutherland wasn't much of an actress, according to Dessay herself, and I agree. I even think Dessay is the next Callas in terms of acting and portrayals.

[brightboy86]

You can say whatever you want about Dessay, she'a a succes and that's the fact, try to get a ticket to see her perform at the MET, even the May 16th's "La Fille du Regiment" performance is sold out, not even Domingo or Georghiu has that demand.

[godlovesyou333]

yes, I can say whatever I like, and that's why I say. compared to other MET singers, she sucks.

[brightboy86]

Whateva!

[SamanthaVoce]

She is wonderful!!! I love Dessay ! She is a ure note and full of musicality singer! Sucks? You suck!

[godlovesyou333]

Wow, Dessay's version of this is almost embarrassing. She is a sobretto, and you need to be at least a spinto to sing this. The aria calls for power and dramatic shaping, andDessay's voice has niether of these qualities.

[actorboy2]

Actually Dessay is a lyric coloratura. But yes I can see how you would think that she is a sopretto. But still she isn't not a good fit for this song.

[ABlackNote]

dessay sings it better than callas,anyway

[RMBRRSD]

ARE U CRAZY!?!? This is meant to be a delicate and very carefully sung piece. She sings it WAY too strong. She's a good singer, but she should sing more dramatic songs that require powerful singing, not as delicate as this song. Maria Callas kicks ass singing Spargi D'amaro Pianto and Dessay is NO competition.

[sulfiatto]

Dessay does not know the old bel canto technique. She is destroying her voice and it is a pitty because she is a good musician and actress. She suffers when she sings and I suffer with her when I ear her! She should meet 25 years ago a bel canto master like E de Hidalgo or La Llopart...

[WWWjuandiegoflorezIT]

Tutti maestri qua... tutti che sanno e nessuno che fa!

[xilpix]

Purtroppo ha detto la verità.

[sulfiatto]

Don't worry. I do.

[olympia024]

Q mala es la envidia, criticar a la Dessay, que es la diosa de la Opera, la mejor soprano ligera que existe y ademas una actriz extraordinaria, para los que no lo sabeis, todo el mundo cumple años, esta señora`pasa ya los 40, qué le pedis a una soprano ligera?, os pido que dejeis de ser ignorantes, Dessay es la perfección escenicamente como vocalmente, no seais tan malos ni tan envidiosos

[niklausse]

Por que ante una opinion en tono critico los fanaticos sacan el argumento de la envidia ? acaso creen que cada persona que expresa una opinion no favorable querria ser Natalie o cantar como ella? respeten los criterios sean cuales sean, a mi me agrada Natalie pero no creo que quienes no gustan de su canto sean envidiosos.

[olympia024]

No soy fanática, pero lo que me molesta enormemente es que se sea tan cruel con las personas, estaban esperando que Natalie cometiera algún tipo de error o que no se luciera como nos tiene acostumbrados para caerle encima, respeto los criterios pero no me parece justo que se hable como se ha hablado de una figura tan importante. TODOS COMETEMOS ERRORES, ELLA TAMBIEN. Solo pido respeto.

[Orombello]

Horrible

[actor001]

la cobardia de no llegar a las notas..

[nicevidbro]

la cobardia de decir cualquier cosa. si tuvieses la partitura sabrias que hace todas las notas. ignorante.

[actor001]

ignorante sera tu porque sabrias que la paritura orignal es una nota mas arriba si quieres escuchar la partitura de verdad busca la grabación dirigida por Sir Charles Mackerras

[elcamaleon1]

Cómo qué una nota más arriba? En música se cambia una octava si se quiere facilitar una composición. Es obviamente equivocación tuya escribir cosas tan estrañas.

Come mai una nota più alto? In musica si cambia una ottava se si vuole facilitare una composizione. È ovviamente un'errore tuo scrivere una tale mensogna.

What do you mean one tone higher? In music you would change an octave to facilitate the piece. It is obviously your mistake to underestimating the crowd here.

[actor001]

para ser mas especifico escucha a andrea rost

[nicevidbro]

y yo me pregunto una cosa. cual es la idea de hacer un comentario hostil sin ninguna razon? una cosa es hacer una critica constructiva, y otra cosa es hacer un comentario dañino y hostil sin ninguna razon aparente, tan solo para molestar y ofender.

[543johnson]

Is it just me, or am I hearing the glass harmonica, like the one used in the Sills' 1970 recording??!!

[jetsetjordan]

Yes, the Met used one for the new production....as in the origial score.

[niklausse]

Madame Dessay is a deity but I Can't Stomach the SarahBrightman-esque picture =/

[cmorgan22]

And it was posted all over NYC. Plus on all MET tickets for the season! Basta!

[operamusicfan]

Yes, we lucky New yorkers saw Natalie every day on buses, subway stations, etc. :D

[jetsetjordan]

I saw it, it was just wonderful, the acting, the sining all of it. She was Lucia.

[AnnickMassisFan]

Povera Callas ....

[niklausse]

the best lucia nowadays, her voice is still brilliant, in focus, on pitch and wonderfully secure tough a bit more strained than before.

[marioj34]

molto avaro in colorature.... molto molto lontano da una Sills o Sutherland....... Quanto alle acute...

[ABlackNotes]

natalie has a very good italian pronunciation...............

[clashguy]

Excellent actrice... very good soprano.

I love Natalie, though.

[saverioorlando]

More strange than beautiful.

[x4812k]

Then she is a successful Lucia.

[ABlackNotes]

what?

[SophiaAlejandra]

Lucia is mad. read your opera librettos

[bettiniroma]

she lost everything including the voice!!

[ABlackNotes]

in che senso,scusa?(what do you mean?)

[x4812k]

I was replying to saverloorlando" who said that Dessay was more strange than beautiful. Lucia is not supposed to be beautiful in this scene, this is a dramatic, almost deranged scene. If Dessay sang this "prettily" she wouldn't be a successful Lucia.

[ABlackNotes]

come urla?!?nn so io la trovo perfetta....arriva a delle note assurde e le fa vibrate,stupende....poi boh alla fine è una cosa soggettiva....tu chi reputi brava?

[kngiht84]

Sure and you've lost everything including proper judgement.

[nicevidbro]

you lost your brain.

[agnellodei]

I noticed she doesn't do the thrills, but that's ok. She was fabulous anyways.

[agnellodei]

I was there! she was amazing!!!

[SKOC211]

I wasn't at this performance, but I was there at the second performance on the 27th and it was even more spectacular in person. The audience went wild afterwords, it was incredible.

[Iareto]

Wow! This was WAY better than I expected with her recent vocal problems.

[123Niche]

It is the recording of the première at the Met. Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo and some stars were here. This performance is awesome !

[Homoclassicus]

Thanks so much!

I've had the chance to download this live broadcast recording but gave up because I thought she wouldn't be in her best vocal form in the very first night of the season ... How I was wrong!

She's wonderful, almost surely the best Lucia nowadays - and quite a lot better than in her previous Lucias. Alas, she only lacks trills ... Can her naysayers keep saying her voice is destroyed after this? Apart from high notes, the timbre and phrasing now are even more precious!

[garconfrancais01]

where did u download the live broadcast recording? i would like to do that as well.

[FoxyGrandpa]

Homoclassicus, I accidentally removed if you wanted to add it again.

Also, I have most of opening night (minus the first few minutes up to a little after Spargi) if you wanted that. If anyone has the full performance and can send it tome, I'd be much obliged. I also have all of September 27th's broadcast.

[Homoclassicus]

That's excellent news. I'd be very glad to have this recording, but, considering the opening night recording isn't complete and you have the September 27th's broadcast, I think the second option would be more appropriate.

Anyway, I don't know how I could acquire it without creating any trouble to you, after all to upload a recording and send it demands a lot of time ... But thank you very much for your generous offer! ;-)

[gypsycafe]

Foxy Grandpa, as always, another one of your videos has made my day! I love her in this! Her voice sounds very different even from her performance as Manon in July. I saw some of the other pictures from this photo shoot too! They are brilliant.

[brightboy86]

great!! I love her

[tklogan11809]

I was there, in a box in Grand Tier right by the stage, Dessay was impressive, the applause after this lasted for ever, great conducting from Levine as well, the score rarely sounded this good.

[coloraturafan]

Loved it! Good for her... so many people were talking about how her voice wasn't up to the role anymore. She really showed her stuff here, and at the Met no less. Not always an easy hall to please. :-)

[francescorudolfo]

Thanks for posting this. I was unable to tune in for the live broadcast.

[Lilith89ibz]

I loooooooooooooooooove it! Yay! ^^ Where did you get that photo? Thanks for posting this =)

[cmorgan22]

That photo has been plastered all over New York City. The MET even uses it on all of their tickets, and when the subscriptions were announced it was on the envelope as well as the brochure. Basta. I've seen it too many times!

[Lilith89ibz]

Well, I like it...

[cmorgan22]

I liked it at first, too. Especially when you see the entire photo with the rose petals scatterd over her white dress. It's just that I've had enough of it, looking at it all season long. :)

[Lilith89ibz]

Understandably lol

[cmorgan22]

I have tix for the spring performance and am greatly looking forward to it after having heard it on Sirius.

[Lilith89ibz]

You just made me incredibly jealous... Well, I could have killed so as to see the Met's production of 'Die Zauberflöte' with Diana Damrau as Pamina and the Queen, but I couldn't go. *Sigh*