Sabine Devieilhe, a total star in Somnambula

parisdiaPerforming arts1 Comment

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Sabine Devieilhe does not only have a fabulous voice, she is also extremely pretty

There are magical evenings that one only lives through a few times in one’s life and Monday night at Théâtre des Champs Elysées was one of them. My good friend Sophie de Ségur, who knows the opera world in and out, had warned me : do not miss Sabine Devieilhe’s « Somnambula » in April, she is a major singer ! And so obediently, I booked (a strapontin, a folding seat) in an already full house and looked forward to rediscovering this young (30) soprano whom I had heard in Aix en Provence at the HSBC  Académie competition and also in Paris in their Champs Elysées salons. That was in 2012.

She won a Victoire de la Musique for best lyrical artist in 2015

She won a Victoire de la Musique for best lyrical artist in 2015, at the Paris Zenith

Since, I had totally missed her Victoire de la musique, as best lyrical artist in 2015, and her Paris Opera debut with Philippe Jordan as Queen of the night in the Magic Flute, in 2014, I was surprised to find her so ahead in the game.

As Amina in the concert version of “La Somnambula” by Bellini (who died at 38 after composing Puritans and Norma), she took over the stage in her pretty pink dress and galvanized the crowds who roared in applauds. There was not an inch of space left in the theatre and everyone at intermission, was telling each other about their experiences of the new star. She is automatically compared to Natalie Dessay, but some say her voice is superior. Chef Jean Claude Malgoire, who gave her her first role in Somnambula in 2011, was there with his wife and felt proud.

She graduated from the French National conservatory (CNSM) in 2011 “summa cum laude”, after having studied cello and musicology as a little girl. Since, she has sung with William Christie, Marc Minkowski, at the Lyon opera,  in Aix en Provence, at Theatre de la Monnaie, in Brussels, and at Glyndebourne. She is delightful. And very pretty.

photo Marc Ribes for erato

photo Marc Ribes for erato

There is something to be said for opera performed in concert mode, you focus on the singers and the music much better. I sat at the corbeille and could see some spectators listening with their eyes closed in the orchestra. Just before intermission, a ticket flew down from the 4th balcony and landed on an old man. It was like a divine intervention !

The Bellini opera is so romantic that the whole evening was a dream. Sabine Devieilhe’s partners, John Osborn and Nicola Ulivieri and her rival (in the story) Jennifer Michel, were pleased and stunned by the frantic reception. American chef Christopher Franklin, was fabulous and so attentive to the singers. He will be again at the Rossini festival in Pessaro this summer.

So this was yet again a great evening at Théâtre des Champs Elysées which has now become serious competition to the Paris Opera.

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One Comment on “Sabine Devieilhe, a total star in Somnambula”

  1. Est-ce possible de rêver et de penser que Sabine Devieilhe se présentera à Paris en Septembre ou Octobre prochains ?

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