Star-crossed Met
Natalie Dessay is out of tonight’s prima of Romeo et Juliette at the Met; Maureen O’Flynn sings (and, incidentally, will go into the annals as the “creator” of the role in this particular production). Dessay is still on the roster for Thursday’s performance.
Someone, anyone, how did she do last night?
I’m a devout Dessay fan and have downloaded just about every single bootleg recording that I can find! I saw her Lucia in Chicago and literally cried after the mad scene. She was fantastic and even threw plates around before she fell to the floor where she sang an amazing e-flat. Her singing was perfect that night.
I saw Natalie sing Juliette last night Nov. 25th. First of all I have to say that her acting was unbelievably great. She truly embodied a vibrant 15 year old girl. Her presence on stage gave me goose bumps and I couldn’t get enough of it. Now to be completely honest I have to say that Dessay’s singing did not overwhelm me in any emotional sense as it did during Lucia. I enjoyed every second of her singing but I really feel that A.) Romeo et Juliette is not the greatest opera and B.) the role of Juliette is just a tiny bit heavy for Ms. Dessay. She sang the music very carefully and did not push to add any extra vocal weight. This being said I felt that the performance was very good but not stellar. In other words Natalie Dessay sang the role of Juliette very well, but will not make it a signature piece in anyway.
A highlight of the evening was her singing of the Poison aria!!! I was clenching my fists during the time leading up to it! I was so thrilled that she did it. She sang the aria very well although like the rest of the opera it was sung without any extra vocally dramatic inflections that we’re all accustomed to hearing from Dessay.
Overall I felt that Ms. Dessay sang Juliette incredibly well without stamping her signature on it. Does that make sense? I really don’t want to write anything negative about her, it is just that I left the performance feeling a little less than star-struck. She sang exceptionally well but did not always leave me thinking “Dessay’s Juliette is the only Juliette to date.”
I did wait around to get her autograph and asked her if she’d be singing Puritani anytime soon hahah. She told me that she thought that “Sonnambula was more beautiful”… definitely don’t know if I agree. I think that Puritani is overall a good deal more interesting. She is a completely down to earth and was so nice.
All in all I hope that I haven’t said anything to discourage anyone from seeing Dessay’s Juliette. She is a stellar performer, but I think that this role is just not ideal. She sings it very well and does not try to be a heavier singer than she is.
Ms. Dessay informed me that she’d be singing Lucia at the Met during the 07/08 season and that Hamlet and Sonnambula would follow. I think that those three roles are perfect for her and that we are all in for a totally indulgent experience. I hope that my rambling didn’t make me seem to be any less of a Natalie Dessay fan… I’m truly enthralled and have been for some time.