Nathalie Dessay French opera singer (coloratura soprano) Date of Birth: 19.04.1965 Country: France

Biography of Natalie Dessay

Natalie Dessay is a French opera singer (coloratura soprano). She was born in Lyon and initially had dreams of becoming a ballerina before becoming interested in acting. However, her singing talent was discovered during her acting courses, and she quickly realized that she should focus on a musical career.

Dessay studied singing at the National Regional Conservatory of Bordeaux and further honed her skills in the choir in Toulouse. From the beginning of her career, she stood out from other singers with her powerful coloratura, wide vocal range, and clear intonation. Over time, she also developed a considerable acting talent.

After winning the first prize at the 'Les Voix Nouvelles' competition organized by 'France Télécom', Dessay studied for an additional year at the Paris Opera's Ecole d'Art Lyrique. She then participated in the International Mozart Competition at the Vienna State Opera, where she won first prize again.

In 1992, Dessay performed the role of Olympia in 'The Tales of Hoffmann' alongside José van Dam, under the direction of Roman Polanski. Her performance received positive reviews despite critics' lukewarm reception of the production. Ten years later, she would once again play the role of Olympia in a different production at the Paris Opera.

In December 1993, Dessay replaced Cheryl Studer as one of the three main heroines in a new interpretation of a German fairy tale at the Vienna State Opera. Her performance was well-received by Viennese audiences and even earned praise from Plácido Domingo.

In October 1994, Dessay made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, performing as Fiakermilli in Strauss's 'Arabella'. She would return to the Metropolitan Opera three years later, playing the roles of Zerbinetta and Olympia.

In 2003, Dessay made her first appearance at the Santa Fe Opera, where she fell in love with both New Mexico and the city itself. The Santa Fe Opera quickly adjusted its schedule to include Dessay's performances in 'La sonnambula' in 2004. She would go on to play Pamina in Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' and Violetta in 'Traviata' in subsequent years, with her husband, Laurent Naouri, playing the role of Germont alongside her.

In addition to her performances in Santa Fe, Dessay also appeared in various productions around the world. In the 2006-2007 season, she sang in productions of 'Lucia di Lammermoor' and 'La fille du régiment' in Paris, 'La fille du régiment' in London and Vienna, and 'Manon' in Barcelona. The 2007-2008 season opened with her role as Lucia, followed by another performance of 'La fille du régiment'.

In March 2010, it was announced that Dessay would not be able to perform the role of Ophelia due to illness.