Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias

Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Jacques Offenbach (Composer), Jules Massenet (Composer), Ambroise Thomas (Composer), Charles Gounod (Composer), Gioachino Rossini (Composer), Francois-Adrien Boieldieu (Composer), Michel Plasson (Conductor), Orchestre de Capitole de Toulouse (Orchestra), Natalie Dessay (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Natalie Dessay
• Orchestra: Orchestre de Capitole de Toulouse
• Conductor: Michel Plasson
• Composer: Gaetano Donizetti, Jacques Offenbach, Jules Massenet, Ambroise Thomas, Charles Gounod, et al.
• Audio CD (January 13, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0000ZOJZW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,719 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Französische Opernarien / Airs D'Operas Francais (CD Album) by Natalie Dessay, Choeur "Les Elements", Orchestre National, du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson - 12 tracks : 1. Massenet : Manon - Air du Cours la Reine : Suis-je gentille ainsi ? (2.52), 2. Gavotte : Obéissons quand leur voix appelle (2.59), 3. Fabliau : Rire toujours ? Vous vous trompez... (3.55), 4. Thomas : Mignon - Polonaise : Je suis Titania la blonde (5.59), 5. Massenet : Chérubin - Aubade : Vive amour qui rêve (4.12), 6. Boieldieu : La fête du village voisin - Boléro : Profitez de la vie 0 (2.30), 7. Offenbach : Robinson Crusoë - Grande valse : Conduisez-moi vers celui que j'adore (3.58), 8. Rossini : Le comte Ory En proie à la tristesse (9.59), 9. Donizetti : La fille du régiment C'en est donc fait... Salut à la France ! (8.33), 10. Gounod : Roméo et Juliette - Valse de Juliette : Ah ! Je veux vivre (3.35), 11. Thomas : Hamlet - Air de la folie : A vos jeux mes amis (13.34), 12. Mort d'Ophélie : Le voilà, je crois l'entendre (4.56)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Salut à la France!, May 9, 2004

By 

M. Ramos - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias (Audio CD)

Natalie Dessay is a delight on this CD of arias from 19th century French Opera. The listener can experience a singer who is both concerned about the vocal and interpretative values of each selection of this recital. The first two tracks of the Cours de la Reine Scene from Massenet's 'Manon' show a fresh voice that portrays easily the youth and frivolity of the title character. All the stacattos, cadenzas and high notes are on the service of the character. It is delightful to find some rarities on this recital, like the Fabliau from 'Manon' (an alternative aria that Massenet composed for sustitution of the Gavotte) and the pieces from 'Chérubin', 'La fête du village voisin' and 'Robinson Crusoe'. On the selection by Offenbach, Dessay sings a stunning trill on a Dflat and then goes to expectacular scales, finishing the dazzling waltz with an elaborate cadenza and a firm high E. Another highlight of the CD is the elaborate aria from 'Le Comte Ory' by Rossini, where the soprano's attention to the nuances of the piece bring out a lively interpretation. The aria from 'La fille du régiment' makes us wish for a complete recording of the opera. However, the best part of the CD are the last two tracks. Dessay brings all her gifts to a climax with a marvelous performance of the Ophélie's Mad and Death Scenes from 'Hamlet' by Ambroise Thomas. This version of the Mad Scene is even better than her previous rendition on her last recital of French arias. This is a highly emotional interpretation where all the brilliant scales and cadenzas reflect the changing moods of Ophelie's madness and her despair as well as her innocence. This is the definitive performance of this music on records, period. The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Choeur 'Les Eléments', ably conducted by Michel Plasson, complement Dessay beautifully. In summary, another wonderful CD by one of the most remarkable coloratura sopranos of our time.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, but a minor quality control problem, April 1, 2004

By 

Lawrence Landis (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias (Audio CD)

Five stars for Natalie Dessay, who has an incredible instrument, and a great selection of arias. But I've listened to 4 copies of this disc and each had a very short "click" at 2:22 on track 2 (the Gavotte from Manon). Must be a quality control problem. Maybe it was just a bad batch.

Anyway, Dessay's voice is a force of nature; she must be one of the greatest coloraturas ever. I prefer her live version of Handel's "Tornami" from Alcina to Sutherland's. And she's incredible on Orphee Aux Enfers - not only a wonderful singer, but obviously a great actress and comedienne.

So, if you've not heard her before, give this album a try - ignore the "click" and listen to a truly angelic voice.

So 5 stars for Natalie Dessay and the selections, and a slap on the wrist for the record label and its quality control.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL FRENCH ARIA RECITAL, August 9, 2010

By 

Operaman! "dsoda" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias (Audio CD)

There's much to recommend in Dessay's second French aria recital. The rare selections from Boieldieu and Offenbach are nice to hear, as is the gem of an aria from Cherubin that is getting a little more play on aria recitals. I'm also glad the postlude after Ophelia's mad scene is included - beautiful and haunting music with some wonderful pianissimos. It's unlikely Natalie will get to do a complete Hamlet audio recording, so it's welcome. All of the selections are performed in musical context with chorus, a nice plus. Other reviewers have noted the technical glitches - it's my summation they are the fault of conductor Plasson getting a little too "vocal" on the podium (shades of Bernstein or Toscanini?). In the past we had vinyl noise, tape hiss and analog distortions to hide such distractions - but no more. Videos of Dessay's recording sessions show that she likes to move and gesticulate a lot while recording (soprano Pettibon does this also). All that swishing around gets on the audio as well.

I'm a little surprised to hear the Juliette waltz sung in the conventional key rather than the high coloratura key. The conclusion of Manon's gavotte sounds clumsily coordinated between soloist and conductor. The lesser-known fablieau is good, but here, and in the Mignon Polonaise, lies one of Dessay's technical flaws, namely "lifting" into the stratospheric notes. Too many times the upper highs sound pushed, and this could spell problems for the future. My undertstanding she has taken on the lower-pitched Melisande on stage so perhaps her days as a leggiero are winding down and more lyrical roles are in the future. At any rate, a most enjoyable album and recommended.