Dessay's "Lucia" E flat compilation!

Here is a video compilation of 17 clips of high E flats from Lucia di Lammermoor that Dessay has sung, ranging from 2004 to present. Naturally I don't have every single possible E flat, but here is my collection of them in chronological order. At the end, there I made a continuous play of all the E flats in order, so you can hear how her voice progressed over the 4 years!

My favorite one is the September 9th, 2006 Lucia from Bastille!! It's SUPERB! Unfortunately, the last one isn't very good...! It has her "mess-up..." and a quite shrill high E flat.

Here is the list:
Early recital after surgery: 2004
Lyric Opera of Chicago: Feb. 16, 2004
Recital: July 7, 2005
In Recital: 2005
In-House Bastille: France, 2006
Bastille, France: Sept. 9, 2006
Bastille, France: Sept. 9, 2006 (2)
Bastille, France: Sept. 13, 2006
Bastille, France: Sept. 13, 2006 (2)
Airs d'Operas Italiens CD: 2007
Metropolitan Opera: Sept. 24, 2007
Metropolitan Opera: Sept. 27, 2007
Metropolitan Opera: Oct. 9th, 2007
Metropolitan Opera: Oct. 13, 2007
Barbican, London Recital: Jan. 21 2008
Metropolitan Opera: March 8, 2008
Metropolitan Opera: March 13, 2008
UPDATE: Added San Francsico Opera: June 20, 2008
Thank you!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• natalie
• dessay
• lucia
• di
• lammermoor
• spargi
• d'amaro
• pianto
• ardon
• g'lincensi
• high
• flat
• eb
• compilation

[SsteinwayS]

I love the "mess-up" you included! I was so confused when I first heard it a while back! ;)

[sour7lemon]

Haha! I remember listening to the live broadcast of that night, and my heart stopped when she came in early! I got so nervous for her!

[sour7lemon]

Come to think of it now, i think it was planned. The french horns aren't supposed to double the voice line at the part where she comes in early, then they play it when she is supposed to. Its not in the score! I think she did it because she needed to breathe.

[SsteinwayS]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK!

This is wonderful! I love it!

[sour7lemon]

You're welcome!

[nicevidbro]

This might sound really odd but i think the live versions of the E flat are better than the studio version from the italian arias cd. Even the complete live performances sound better than the studio versions. Thats a nice thing. I will support this genius Dessay until death and beyond.

[babydrane]

Let's all just sign off on the fact that Sutherland had the best Eb of any human. I'm happy that Dessay is able to hit it but it does sound like a struggle for her.

[byronjohnmcdonald]

Who is that idiot saying Dessay's E-Flat sounds like a struggle? I dare say she has made more money from her E-Flat than anyone else in the last 20 years and her E-Flat is a totally exciting compliment to the rest of her Lucia. Completely different placement to Sutherland's and lets face it... a top e-flat is hard work for anyone at the end of this mad scene and I don't hear a bad one among this compilation.

[erginakif]

OK, the last bit you added is a total overkill. I laughed a lot.

[FederigoKisslown]

@bettiniroma

Uno con le orecchie finalmente! Sono una massa di ignoranti che assistono compiaciuti a un'insulto alla lirica.

[FederigoKisslown]

Non ce n'è uno intonato. Sono TUTTI calanti. Calanti e al limite dello sforzo. Magari fosse solo questo: la voce è pessima e i virtuosismi sono appena accennati e impasticciati fino all'osso. Ma per piacere, sono altre le dive, questa è un obbrobrio.

[fullbuck50]

Fascinating - many thanks for creating and posting.

[ChrisStockslager]

@babydrane Agreed.

[Klaudhius]

Amazing! i love the end! :)

[dmitrid1]

she has that end-gasp which is unpleasant; sometimes she sounds cat-like. And remember, she doesn't trill BEFORE the e-flat, like Sutherland. Sutherland still reigns!!

[harpguy18]

@sour7lemon I agree with you, i think it was planned