"Beware the Fortissimo Top Notes"
Natalie Dessay is beyond question a singer of prodigious coloratura gifts. Her vocal fireworks, the seemingly tossed off, astonishingly accurate passages of scales and arpeggios, are appropriately breathtaking. Further when she sings softly, her voice is both dramatic, yet consistently beautiful. If there is a flaw in her voice, I would say it's the piercing, almost factory-whistle like vibrato which marks her stratospheric topmost notes when sung fortissimo. To hear her both at her best and weakest, I would point to the "Maria Stuarda" selection. The aria itself is sung just about to perfection, as is most of the cabaletta. In the middle section of the latter, however, Dessay produces a couple of the loud high notes I've referred to, the sort that could take paint right off a wall. Happily, in her recent "Sonnambula" recording she avoided this sort of blood-curdling, let it rip, frankly ugly high note, though it was prominent in her complete "Lucia," unfortunately.

For my money, the softly sung selections on this present recording are the standouts. The slow part of the "Stuarda" aria, and most of all, the wonderful "I Capuleti" excerpt are reasons enough for purchasing the set.

She is an amazing singer. One of the greats?
In this collection of bel canto favorites, Natalie Dessay gives us a record of the buzz she has been generating for several years. She is truly an intelligent singer with a powerful, appealing instrument. She navigates some of the most demanding coloratura passages with grace, courage,insight, and total musicality. Her Donizetti is particularly strong, particularly the selections from Maria Stuarda and Cap/Montecchi--but most amazing is her Mad Scene from Lucia. Her Verdi and Bellini selections are also impressive. It is too early to tell how well she shall be remembered given some of the earlier greats, but it is undeniable that she is extremely talented. In many ways she appears to combine the best qualities of Callas, Sutherland, Sills, and Anderson. Having seen her on stage years ago, I am happy to notice that the high quality of her acting does come through on record. This is a singer keep watching.