Natalie Dessay‘s first role performances of Violetta at Santa Fe Opera in 2009. I have very few opportunities to see real-life opera divas, but when Natalie chose to debut her first Traviata at Santa Fe, there was no way I was going to miss it. At first, I was put off by the condition of the voice, which was a bit reedy and thin, but soon, I was utterly caught up in how she projected her character so wholly and fervently that the rest of the cast seemed rather insipid. I have been to Santa Fe many times and this one was a night to remember.