Fabio Armiliato (born in Genoa) is an Italian tenor.
Born in Genoa, he has had an impressive career and has being hailed by critics as "the best Chénier of our time"(Landini, L'Opera).
In 1993 he debuted in the Metropolitan Opera House in Il Trovatore, returning later in Aida and Madama Butterfly. Other important debuts include those in the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, in the Opéra de Paris and in San Francisco Opera. He performed Madama Butterfly in La Scala, in the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago and in the New National Theatre, Tokyo (where he garnered 45 minutes of applause).
He worked with Zubin Mehta in Don Carlo, in a five act version in Munich and Florence.
In the 2007-2008 season he made a debut as Alvaro in La forza del destino in Montecarlo, followed by La Fanciulla del West in Rome and Norma in Bologna, while in 2008-2009, he performed Tosca in Florence, Adriana Lecouvreur in Palermo and La Fanciulla del West in Seville. In 2008 he participate to Puccini 150th Anniversary Gala Concert in New York.
Website: http://www.fabioarmiliato.com
10.22.2009
Inva Mula
Inva Mula (born 1963) is an opera soprano born in Tirana, Albania. Coming from an artistic family, she began her opera career at a very early age. Her father, Avni Mula, is a famous Albanian singer and composer, born in Đakovica, a city in Kosovo.
In 1987 she won the Cantante d'Albania competition in Tirana and in 1988 the George Enescu Competition in Bucharest. In 1992 she won the Butterfly Competition in Barcelona. She received an award at Plácido Domingo's first Operalia International Opera Competition contest in Paris, 1993. A CD of the event was released.
She later performed in various concerts with the famous tenor at the Opéra Bastille in Paris, and in Brussels for Europalia Mexico, in Munich, and in Oslo. In 1996 she performed Luigi Cherubini's opera Médée (which was taped for TV) at Compiègne in France. She then returned for Georges Bizet's opera La Jolie fille de Perth (released CD, filmed for TV, and released DVD in Japan) in 1998. After this she recorded Puccini's La Rondine with Angela Gheorghiu for EMI and for 2005's stage production she took Gheorghiu's place in the leading role of Magda during performances in Toulouse and Paris.
Later on, she performed Bizet's Ivan IV concert version, which had its recital debut at Salle Pleyel in Paris, and a live recording was released as CD. In 2001, she was busy in Italy, performing Verdi's Falstaff at the Teatro alla Scala and Rigoletto at the Verona Arena, both of which were taped for TV then released on DVD.
Mula is a regular performer at La Scala, where she has sung in Lucia di Lammermoor, La bohème, and Manon, among others. She is also a renowned Violetta in La Traviata, and has sung the role in many cities around the world, including Tokyo, Bilbao, Orange, Trieste, and Toronto. In 2007, she performed Adina in L'elisir d'amore at Toulouse.
Her ex-husband Pirro Çako is a well-known singer and composer from Albania, so she used the spelling Tchako rather than Çako. However, after mid-1990 she began using the name Inva Mula, and never returned to the old one.
Website: http://www.invamula.com
In 1987 she won the Cantante d'Albania competition in Tirana and in 1988 the George Enescu Competition in Bucharest. In 1992 she won the Butterfly Competition in Barcelona. She received an award at Plácido Domingo's first Operalia International Opera Competition contest in Paris, 1993. A CD of the event was released.
She later performed in various concerts with the famous tenor at the Opéra Bastille in Paris, and in Brussels for Europalia Mexico, in Munich, and in Oslo. In 1996 she performed Luigi Cherubini's opera Médée (which was taped for TV) at Compiègne in France. She then returned for Georges Bizet's opera La Jolie fille de Perth (released CD, filmed for TV, and released DVD in Japan) in 1998. After this she recorded Puccini's La Rondine with Angela Gheorghiu for EMI and for 2005's stage production she took Gheorghiu's place in the leading role of Magda during performances in Toulouse and Paris.
Later on, she performed Bizet's Ivan IV concert version, which had its recital debut at Salle Pleyel in Paris, and a live recording was released as CD. In 2001, she was busy in Italy, performing Verdi's Falstaff at the Teatro alla Scala and Rigoletto at the Verona Arena, both of which were taped for TV then released on DVD.
Mula is a regular performer at La Scala, where she has sung in Lucia di Lammermoor, La bohème, and Manon, among others. She is also a renowned Violetta in La Traviata, and has sung the role in many cities around the world, including Tokyo, Bilbao, Orange, Trieste, and Toronto. In 2007, she performed Adina in L'elisir d'amore at Toulouse.
Her ex-husband Pirro Çako is a well-known singer and composer from Albania, so she used the spelling Tchako rather than Çako. However, after mid-1990 she began using the name Inva Mula, and never returned to the old one.
Website: http://www.invamula.com
Ainhoa Arteta
Ainhoa Arteta Ibarrolaburu, born 24 September 1964 in Tolosa (Guipúzcoa), Spain, is a Spanish soprano.
After studying in Tolosa and Italy, she later studied under Ruth Falcon.
After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1993,[2] her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in October 1994 was as Mimì in La Bohème.[3][4] She has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera with Plácido Domingo and Mirella Freni and in Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Tirésias directed by James Levine.[1]
She was accompanied by Plácido Domingo for her debut at London's Covent Garden.
For her Carnegie Hall debut she was accompanied by Dolora Zajick and Plácido Domingo, with whom she has toured several countries.[1]
She has also performed at Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Amsterdam Opera, Bonn Opera, Teatro Bellas Artes in México, Teatro di San Carlo, Washington Opera, San Francisco Opera, Arena di Verona,[4] among others.
She has performed Faust at the Bayrische Staatsoper and Münchner Opern-Festspiele with Rolando Villazón, directed by Friedrich Haider.[1]
She has sung with the Orquesta de Cadaqués conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony Orchestra.[1]
She has also performed and recorded with her former husband Dwayne Croft.[5]
Among other awards, she has the Concours International de Voix d’Opera Plácido Domingo (Paris).[1][6]
In December 2008 she gave a series of recitals accompanied by Malcolm Martineau.[7]
Website: http://www.iberkonzert.com/artistas/5/AINHOA-ARTETA.html
After studying in Tolosa and Italy, she later studied under Ruth Falcon.
After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1993,[2] her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in October 1994 was as Mimì in La Bohème.[3][4] She has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera with Plácido Domingo and Mirella Freni and in Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Tirésias directed by James Levine.[1]
She was accompanied by Plácido Domingo for her debut at London's Covent Garden.
For her Carnegie Hall debut she was accompanied by Dolora Zajick and Plácido Domingo, with whom she has toured several countries.[1]
She has also performed at Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Amsterdam Opera, Bonn Opera, Teatro Bellas Artes in México, Teatro di San Carlo, Washington Opera, San Francisco Opera, Arena di Verona,[4] among others.
She has performed Faust at the Bayrische Staatsoper and Münchner Opern-Festspiele with Rolando Villazón, directed by Friedrich Haider.[1]
She has sung with the Orquesta de Cadaqués conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony Orchestra.[1]
She has also performed and recorded with her former husband Dwayne Croft.[5]
Among other awards, she has the Concours International de Voix d’Opera Plácido Domingo (Paris).[1][6]
In December 2008 she gave a series of recitals accompanied by Malcolm Martineau.[7]
Website: http://www.iberkonzert.com/artistas/5/AINHOA-ARTETA.html
Montserrat Melero
Montserrat Melero, (Barcelona, Spain) Coloratura Soprano. She started playing the piano, but was one of those girls who always sang at family gatherings and in school one day someone told him understand that his mother had a good voice for classical singing, and went from there when it started to take classes, on their first day of class and vocalized up do6 displaying great natural facility for the high notes.
She is renowned for his vocal technique and his interpretations of the soprano repertoire displaying on its clean sharp.
Melero has won many of the best international prizes around the world (Spain, Italy,...). Her atypical hight notes,ease sing and her technical has actually one of best potential into her fact (coloratura soprano).
Began her musical studies singing with Cesar Puente, later studying with Maria Àngels Sarroca in the Conservatory of Music in Barcelona where end of Singing with Excellent and Award of Honor.
She has been taught by Miguel Fleta Pierre, Mady Mesplé and Enedina Lloris, Raúl Gimenez with whom they could improve the most of the coloratura soprano repertoire.
She has also received masterclasses with Montserrat Caballé, Jaume Aragall among others.
Gets his first opera role at Lacambra Mirna win the contest, singing the role of the opera Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti's Lucia.
Soprano sings the roles of the opera "Els Contes de Sade" Enric Ferrer which premiered at the theater "Malice" of Barcelona in the "butxaca Opera Festival of Barcelona".
Participate in "Les Jeunesses Musicales méditerranéennes" on the island of Corsica, France, conducting several concerts with Zarzuela repertoire of which were broadcast on television.
She sings in the opera La meua filla sóc jo Carles Santos represented at the Teatre Lliure in Barcelona and the Spanish Theater of Madrid.
Under the direction of La Fura dels Baus, Woglinde sings the role of Wagner's Rhinegold.
She has sung the role of Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute W. A. Mozart in numerous theaters around europe.
He has participated in concerts in the foyer of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
She is increasingly required by international theaters in her early age.
In her actually schedule are La Fille du Règiment, Don Pasquale, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lamemmoor, The magic flute...
Prizes:
* International Singing Competition "Germans PLA" in Balaguer (Lleida).
* 41 international singing contest Francesc Viñas, Hearing wins "Gran Teatro del Liceo" reserved for Spanish singers.
* 43rd International Singing Competition Francesc Viñas del Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, won the award for best Spanish promise.
* 2007 Concorso ruoli lirici the Rome Festival (First Prize)
...
Website: http://www.montserratmelero.com
She is renowned for his vocal technique and his interpretations of the soprano repertoire displaying on its clean sharp.
Melero has won many of the best international prizes around the world (Spain, Italy,...). Her atypical hight notes,ease sing and her technical has actually one of best potential into her fact (coloratura soprano).
Began her musical studies singing with Cesar Puente, later studying with Maria Àngels Sarroca in the Conservatory of Music in Barcelona where end of Singing with Excellent and Award of Honor.
She has been taught by Miguel Fleta Pierre, Mady Mesplé and Enedina Lloris, Raúl Gimenez with whom they could improve the most of the coloratura soprano repertoire.
She has also received masterclasses with Montserrat Caballé, Jaume Aragall among others.
Gets his first opera role at Lacambra Mirna win the contest, singing the role of the opera Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti's Lucia.
Soprano sings the roles of the opera "Els Contes de Sade" Enric Ferrer which premiered at the theater "Malice" of Barcelona in the "butxaca Opera Festival of Barcelona".
Participate in "Les Jeunesses Musicales méditerranéennes" on the island of Corsica, France, conducting several concerts with Zarzuela repertoire of which were broadcast on television.
She sings in the opera La meua filla sóc jo Carles Santos represented at the Teatre Lliure in Barcelona and the Spanish Theater of Madrid.
Under the direction of La Fura dels Baus, Woglinde sings the role of Wagner's Rhinegold.
She has sung the role of Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute W. A. Mozart in numerous theaters around europe.
He has participated in concerts in the foyer of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
She is increasingly required by international theaters in her early age.
In her actually schedule are La Fille du Règiment, Don Pasquale, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lamemmoor, The magic flute...
Prizes:
* International Singing Competition "Germans PLA" in Balaguer (Lleida).
* 41 international singing contest Francesc Viñas, Hearing wins "Gran Teatro del Liceo" reserved for Spanish singers.
* 43rd International Singing Competition Francesc Viñas del Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, won the award for best Spanish promise.
* 2007 Concorso ruoli lirici the Rome Festival (First Prize)
...
Website: http://www.montserratmelero.com
Anna Netrebko
Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (Russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко) born September 18, 1971 (1971-09-18) in Krasnodar, Russia, is a Russian operatic soprano who currently resides in Vienna.
In 1995, the 24-year-old Netrebko made her American debut as Lyudmila in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila at the San Francisco Opera. Following this successful performance, she became a frequent guest singer in San Francisco. She is known as an acclaimed interpreter of other Russian operatic roles, such as Natasha in Prokofiev's War and Peace, Louisa in Betrothal in a Monastery and Marfa in The Tsar's Bride. Netrebko has also made successful forays into bel canto and romantic roles such as Gilda in Rigoletto, Musetta in La bohème, Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, and Elvira in Bellini's I puritani.
In 2002, Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Natasha in the Met premiere of War and Peace[8]. In the same year, she sang her first Donna Anna at the Salzburg Festival's production of Don Giovanni, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She also performed at the Russian Children's Welfare Society's major fund raiser, the "Petroushka Ball". She returned to the Ball in 2003 and 2006 and is an honorary director of the charity.
In 2003, Netrebko performed as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata in Munich, the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Los Angeles Opera, and Donna Anna at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Her second album, Sempre Libera, was released the following year. (During that same year, she made a cameo appearance in the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. She performed a portion of Sempre Libera, and was hailed by Queen Clarisse as "opera's newest rising star.") She sang a highly regarded Roméo et Juliette with Rolando Villazón,[9][10] with whom she also performed in L'Elisir d'Amore in 2005. She later appeared as Violetta Valéry in La traviata at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Carlo Rizzi, again with Villazón; and in 2008 she performed the same role at Covent Garden to triumphant acclaim on the opening night, opposite Jonas Kaufmann and Dmitri Hvorostovsky in performances conducted by Maurizio Benini. However, she cancelled three subsequent performances due to suffering a bronchial condition. This was the second time she had cancelled her performances at the Royal Opera House, having withdrawn from some performances of Don Giovanni the previous summer due to illness.
On 30 May 2007, Netrebko made her Carnegie Hall debut with Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Originally scheduled for 2 March 2006, Netrebko postponed the recital because she did not feel artistically ready.[11]
Netrebko performed at the Last Night of the Proms on 8 September 2007 where she performed "Ah! Se una volta … Ah! Non credea mirarti … Ah! Non giunge" from La sonnambula, "Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß" (Giuditta) and the song "Morgen!" by Richard Strauss (with violinist Joshua Bell).[12] In the fall of 2007 she reprised her role as Juliette in Romeo et Juliette at the Metropolitan Opera. In December 2007, Netrebko performed for Martin Scorsese, a 2007 Honoree, at the Kennedy Center Honors, and in May 2008 she made a much-awaited debut at the Paris Opera in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, with Joyce DiDonato as her Romeo.
Netrebko was scheduled to perform the role of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor in October 2008 at the Metropolitan Opera, but due to her pregnancy she decided to drop out of the role.
In her first performance after her maternity leave, Netrebko sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor when it opened at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg on 14 January 2009, in a production from the Scottish Opera led by John Doyle.[13] She then sang the same role in January and February 2009 at the Metropolitan Opera. Netrebko appeared as Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi at the Royal Opera House in Spring 2009, and as Violetta in La Traviata in June 2009 at the San Francisco Opera.
Website: http://www.annanetrebko.com/
In 1995, the 24-year-old Netrebko made her American debut as Lyudmila in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila at the San Francisco Opera. Following this successful performance, she became a frequent guest singer in San Francisco. She is known as an acclaimed interpreter of other Russian operatic roles, such as Natasha in Prokofiev's War and Peace, Louisa in Betrothal in a Monastery and Marfa in The Tsar's Bride. Netrebko has also made successful forays into bel canto and romantic roles such as Gilda in Rigoletto, Musetta in La bohème, Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, and Elvira in Bellini's I puritani.
In 2002, Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Natasha in the Met premiere of War and Peace[8]. In the same year, she sang her first Donna Anna at the Salzburg Festival's production of Don Giovanni, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She also performed at the Russian Children's Welfare Society's major fund raiser, the "Petroushka Ball". She returned to the Ball in 2003 and 2006 and is an honorary director of the charity.
In 2003, Netrebko performed as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata in Munich, the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Los Angeles Opera, and Donna Anna at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Her second album, Sempre Libera, was released the following year. (During that same year, she made a cameo appearance in the film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. She performed a portion of Sempre Libera, and was hailed by Queen Clarisse as "opera's newest rising star.") She sang a highly regarded Roméo et Juliette with Rolando Villazón,[9][10] with whom she also performed in L'Elisir d'Amore in 2005. She later appeared as Violetta Valéry in La traviata at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Carlo Rizzi, again with Villazón; and in 2008 she performed the same role at Covent Garden to triumphant acclaim on the opening night, opposite Jonas Kaufmann and Dmitri Hvorostovsky in performances conducted by Maurizio Benini. However, she cancelled three subsequent performances due to suffering a bronchial condition. This was the second time she had cancelled her performances at the Royal Opera House, having withdrawn from some performances of Don Giovanni the previous summer due to illness.
On 30 May 2007, Netrebko made her Carnegie Hall debut with Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Originally scheduled for 2 March 2006, Netrebko postponed the recital because she did not feel artistically ready.[11]
Netrebko performed at the Last Night of the Proms on 8 September 2007 where she performed "Ah! Se una volta … Ah! Non credea mirarti … Ah! Non giunge" from La sonnambula, "Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß" (Giuditta) and the song "Morgen!" by Richard Strauss (with violinist Joshua Bell).[12] In the fall of 2007 she reprised her role as Juliette in Romeo et Juliette at the Metropolitan Opera. In December 2007, Netrebko performed for Martin Scorsese, a 2007 Honoree, at the Kennedy Center Honors, and in May 2008 she made a much-awaited debut at the Paris Opera in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, with Joyce DiDonato as her Romeo.
Netrebko was scheduled to perform the role of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor in October 2008 at the Metropolitan Opera, but due to her pregnancy she decided to drop out of the role.
In her first performance after her maternity leave, Netrebko sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor when it opened at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg on 14 January 2009, in a production from the Scottish Opera led by John Doyle.[13] She then sang the same role in January and February 2009 at the Metropolitan Opera. Netrebko appeared as Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi at the Royal Opera House in Spring 2009, and as Violetta in La Traviata in June 2009 at the San Francisco Opera.
Website: http://www.annanetrebko.com/
Natalie Dessay
Natalie Dessay (born Nathalie Dessaix, 19 April 1965, in Lyon) is a French coloratura soprano. She dropped the "h" in her first name in honor of Natalie Wood when she was in grade school and subsequently simplified the spelling of her surname outside France.
In April and May 1992 at the Opéra Bastille, she sang the role of "Olympia" in The Tales of Hoffmann with José van Dam. The Roman Polanski production was not well received, but it began the road to stardom for Dessay. Although she was soon featured in another production of Hoffmann, it would be over ten years before her return to Paris Opera in the same role. Soon after her Hoffmann run, Dessay joined the Vienna State Opera as Blondchen in The Abduction From The Seraglio by W. A. Mozart. In December 1993, she was then asked to replace Cheryl Studer in one of the three female roles in a production of Hoffmann at the Vienna Opera. Her "Olympia" received acclaim from the Vienna audiences and praise from Plácido Domingo.
She attended a performance where Barbara Bonney had sung Sophie in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier under Carlos Kleiber. Dessay was cast in the same role with another conductor. Her hope was to work with Maestro Kleiber, but he died before any project came to fruition.[citation needed] Blondchen in Die Entführung and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos became her best-known and most often played roles.
In October 1994 Dessay made her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York in the role of Fiakermilli in Strauss's Arabella, and returned there in September 1997 as Zerbinetta and in February 1998 as Olympia.
The Staatsoper approached Dessay with two operas: Richard Strauss's Die schweigsame Frau and an unfinished opera by Alban Berg, Lulu. Dessay declined the latter, saying the score was too difficult for her. She admitted that Die schweigsame Frau was already painful to learn.
At the festival of Aix-en-Provence, Dessay first performed the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute. Although she was hesitant to perform the role, saying that she didn't want to play any evil characters, director Robert Carsen convinced her that this Queen would be different, almost a sister to Pamina. Dessay agreed to do the role, claiming it would be a one-time series of performances. There followed a year-long series of final performances of the Queen of the Night.
During the 2001–2002 season in Vienna, she began to experience vocal difficulties and had to be replaced in almost all of the performances of La sonnambula. Subsequently, she was forced to cancel several other performances, including a French version of Lucia in Lyon and a Zerbinetta at the Royal Opera House in London. She withdrew from the stage and underwent surgery on one of her vocal cords in July 2002.[3] In February 2003, she returned to live performances in a Paris concert. Later, she cancelled and had further surgery, but by mid-2005 she was back on stage.
In the summer of 2003, Dessay gave her first US recital in Santa Fe. She was so attracted to New Mexico in general, and to Santa Fe in particular, that Santa Fe Opera (SFO) quickly rearranged its schedule to feature her in SFO's 2004 production of La sonnambula.[4][5] She returned in the 2006 SFO season as Pamina (The Magic Flute). She gave her first performances in the role of Violetta in La traviata at SFO on 3 July 2009 in a production staged by Laurent Pelly. Her husband, Laurent Naouri appeared as Germont.[6]
The 2006/2007 season schedule included Lucia di Lammermoor and La sonnambula in Paris, La fille du régiment directed by Laurent Pelly in London and Vienna, and a Manon in Barcelona. She opened the 2007–08 season at the Met as Lucia and also repeated her role in La fille du regiment. In January 2009 she sang the part of Melisande in a much acclaimed stagione production of Pelleas et Melisande by Claude Debussy at "Theater an der Wien", the second opera house in Vienna, alongside Laurent Naouri. On 2 March 2009, Dessay sang the title role in La Sonnambula at the New York Metropolitan Opera. It was the first new production of the opera at the Met since Joan Sutherland sang the title role in the 1960s.
In other media, Dessay provided the singing voice for the character of Anna Sörensen (played by Diane Kruger) in the movie Joyeux Noël (2005).
In April and May 1992 at the Opéra Bastille, she sang the role of "Olympia" in The Tales of Hoffmann with José van Dam. The Roman Polanski production was not well received, but it began the road to stardom for Dessay. Although she was soon featured in another production of Hoffmann, it would be over ten years before her return to Paris Opera in the same role. Soon after her Hoffmann run, Dessay joined the Vienna State Opera as Blondchen in The Abduction From The Seraglio by W. A. Mozart. In December 1993, she was then asked to replace Cheryl Studer in one of the three female roles in a production of Hoffmann at the Vienna Opera. Her "Olympia" received acclaim from the Vienna audiences and praise from Plácido Domingo.
She attended a performance where Barbara Bonney had sung Sophie in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier under Carlos Kleiber. Dessay was cast in the same role with another conductor. Her hope was to work with Maestro Kleiber, but he died before any project came to fruition.[citation needed] Blondchen in Die Entführung and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos became her best-known and most often played roles.
In October 1994 Dessay made her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York in the role of Fiakermilli in Strauss's Arabella, and returned there in September 1997 as Zerbinetta and in February 1998 as Olympia.
The Staatsoper approached Dessay with two operas: Richard Strauss's Die schweigsame Frau and an unfinished opera by Alban Berg, Lulu. Dessay declined the latter, saying the score was too difficult for her. She admitted that Die schweigsame Frau was already painful to learn.
At the festival of Aix-en-Provence, Dessay first performed the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute. Although she was hesitant to perform the role, saying that she didn't want to play any evil characters, director Robert Carsen convinced her that this Queen would be different, almost a sister to Pamina. Dessay agreed to do the role, claiming it would be a one-time series of performances. There followed a year-long series of final performances of the Queen of the Night.
During the 2001–2002 season in Vienna, she began to experience vocal difficulties and had to be replaced in almost all of the performances of La sonnambula. Subsequently, she was forced to cancel several other performances, including a French version of Lucia in Lyon and a Zerbinetta at the Royal Opera House in London. She withdrew from the stage and underwent surgery on one of her vocal cords in July 2002.[3] In February 2003, she returned to live performances in a Paris concert. Later, she cancelled and had further surgery, but by mid-2005 she was back on stage.
In the summer of 2003, Dessay gave her first US recital in Santa Fe. She was so attracted to New Mexico in general, and to Santa Fe in particular, that Santa Fe Opera (SFO) quickly rearranged its schedule to feature her in SFO's 2004 production of La sonnambula.[4][5] She returned in the 2006 SFO season as Pamina (The Magic Flute). She gave her first performances in the role of Violetta in La traviata at SFO on 3 July 2009 in a production staged by Laurent Pelly. Her husband, Laurent Naouri appeared as Germont.[6]
The 2006/2007 season schedule included Lucia di Lammermoor and La sonnambula in Paris, La fille du régiment directed by Laurent Pelly in London and Vienna, and a Manon in Barcelona. She opened the 2007–08 season at the Met as Lucia and also repeated her role in La fille du regiment. In January 2009 she sang the part of Melisande in a much acclaimed stagione production of Pelleas et Melisande by Claude Debussy at "Theater an der Wien", the second opera house in Vienna, alongside Laurent Naouri. On 2 March 2009, Dessay sang the title role in La Sonnambula at the New York Metropolitan Opera. It was the first new production of the opera at the Met since Joan Sutherland sang the title role in the 1960s.
In other media, Dessay provided the singing voice for the character of Anna Sörensen (played by Diane Kruger) in the movie Joyeux Noël (2005).
Juan Diego Flórez
Juan Diego Flórez (born January 13 1973 in Lima, Peru) is a Peruvian operatic tenor, particularly known for his roles in bel canto operas. On June 4, 2007, he received his country's highest decoration, the Gran Cruz de la Orden del Sol del Perú.
Flórez has a leggiero tenor voice of exceptional beauty which, while not of great size,[citation needed] is nevertheless audible in even the largest houses due to the predominance of high frequencies in its harmonic structure.[citation needed] Its compass is two octaves, up to and including the high E flat (Zelmira, 2009 in live performance, also on CD in an aria by Bellini —"All udir de padre afflito"— in the CD Arias for Rubini), the higher part of its range being particularly strong and brilliant, with almost no sense of effort, while the lowest notes are comparatively weak and thin toned.[citation needed] The head and chest registers are perfectly integrated, with no audible break in the passaggio.[11] His breath control is impeccable, allowing the longest phrases to be sustained with apparent ease.[citation needed] The ornaments of bel canto, including the trill, are well executed, and stylistic errors such as intrusive aspirates generally eschewed.[12] Perhaps the most distinctive technical accomplishment is the singer's mastery of coloratura heard to best effect in his Idreno (Semiramide) and Corradino (Matilde di Shabran).
Website: http://www.juandiegoflorez.com
Flórez has a leggiero tenor voice of exceptional beauty which, while not of great size,[citation needed] is nevertheless audible in even the largest houses due to the predominance of high frequencies in its harmonic structure.[citation needed] Its compass is two octaves, up to and including the high E flat (Zelmira, 2009 in live performance, also on CD in an aria by Bellini —"All udir de padre afflito"— in the CD Arias for Rubini), the higher part of its range being particularly strong and brilliant, with almost no sense of effort, while the lowest notes are comparatively weak and thin toned.[citation needed] The head and chest registers are perfectly integrated, with no audible break in the passaggio.[11] His breath control is impeccable, allowing the longest phrases to be sustained with apparent ease.[citation needed] The ornaments of bel canto, including the trill, are well executed, and stylistic errors such as intrusive aspirates generally eschewed.[12] Perhaps the most distinctive technical accomplishment is the singer's mastery of coloratura heard to best effect in his Idreno (Semiramide) and Corradino (Matilde di Shabran).
Website: http://www.juandiegoflorez.com
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