Sony Music Entertainment France has signed a long-term recording contract with French soprano Natalie Dessay, who said: 'I’m thrilled to work with Sony, who will accompany me in my new artistic life and new projects like "Pictures of America", Michel Legrand’s new cycle of songs, or the Schubert album with Philippe Cassard.' 

Dessay joins Sony after 22 years with Virgin Classics (now Erato). Among her most notable recordings are 'Cleopatra', a collection of arias from Handel's Giulio Cesare, released in 2011. Gramophone's David Vickers commented in his review that 'Dessay’s singing is never less than dazzling, and the stratospheric ornaments in the da capo of “Venere bella” are softly sensual.' This album was also included in our '50 Greatest Handel Recordings' list.

Hervé Defranoux, Director of Sony Classical and Jazz France, said: 'Natalie Dessay is one of France's most exciting and unique artists because she can embrace all musical genres with equal passion and success. She has built a consummate career and a continued artistic relevance without parallel. We are thrilled by the prospect of accompanying and further developing her fantastic musical path.'

Dessay will record Legrand's new cycle of songs for Sony, extending a musical partnership on record that already includes the album 'Entre elle et lui: Natalie Dessay Sings Michel Legrand' and the world premiere of the concert version of Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) on DVD and Blu-ray. She sings 'Papa can you hear me?' from Yentl (accompanied by Legrand) in the video below: