1. A few works of classical music that you adore:

There are so many! Eugene Onegin. Everything by Rachmaninov! Piano Concertos by Mozart – No. 23 is my favorite, particularly the second movement.

2. Classical music recordings that you treasure:

There are millions! Alexandre Tharaud’s Rameau Suites; Perahia’s Bach albums; Caballé singing Trovatore, especially “D’amor sull’ ali rosee”

3. Favorite non-classical musicians and/or recordings:

Ella Fitzgerald; Bill Evans; Take Six.

4. Music that makes you cry – any genre:

Some of the ones I mentioned in the first question, especially the second movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, and Caballe singing “D’amor sull’ ali rosee” from Verdi’s Il Trovatore. And Maria Callas singing “Addio del passato from the third act of La Traviata.

5. Definitely underrated work(s) or composer (s):

I like Hummel’s music, such as his Piano Concertos. He was a dear pupil of Mozart.

6. Possibly overrated work(s) or composer (s):

Verdi sometimes. Sometimes he goes for facility, but Falstaff, Otello and La Traviata are undoubtedly masterpieces.

7. Live music performance (s) you attended – any genre – that you’ll never forget:

Philippe Caubère is a French actor who did many plays that he wrote himself – improvisations telling us his story and his experience with Ariane Mnouchkine who is a famous theater director in Paris. She has a company called La Theatre de Soleil that is justifiably famous.

8. A few relatively recent films you love:

I’m actually too busy to go to the movies very often, but I saw and loved Slum Dog Millionaire.

9. A few films you consider classics:

Anything by Frank Capra, especially It’s A Wonderful Life.

10. A book (or two) that is important to you (and why):

Stefan Zweig’s memoir The World of Yesterday is difficult to describe but people should read it! Balzac’s Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes. I loveHamlet – it’s written centuries before Freud, but is so amazing in its psychological insight.

11. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re most proud of:

My fruitcake – I have a wonderful, simple recipe. I’m a very good baker. And my new long nails! I used to bite them, but it’s great to get rid of an addiction!

12. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re embarrassed by:

I won’t tell you!

13. Three things you can’t live without:

A view, flowers and humor.

14. “When I want to get away from it all I…”

Go to the sea.

15. “People are surprised to find out that I…”

They don’t find out anything about me. I keep it secret.

16. “My favorite cities are…”

New York and Paris.

17. “I have a secret crush on…”

I won’t tell you! Okay, I wouldn’t call it a crush, but I loved the young William Holden – especially in Picnic with Kim Novak.

18. “My most obvious guilty pleasure is…”

Pastries.

19. “I’d really love to meet…”

Peter Ustinov. I just love him. He was brilliant and very, very funny.

20. “I never understood why…”

People have to obey silly rules.

BONUS QUESTION:

21. Question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer to that question):

Q: I don’t like questions!

A: [silence]

For more on Dessay, including discography and upcoming calendar, visit www.natalie-dessay.com.

Xuefei has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including a successful performance at the BBC Proms, and an interview for “Woman’s Hour” on BBC Radio 4. In 2009 Xuefei performed at the Brit Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Xuefei was the subject of a documentary by CCTV in China.

1. A few works of classical music that you adore:

There are too many to list, but some of the many that come to mind include Dvorak’s New World Symphony; Bach’s Cello Suites; Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto; Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp; Debussy’s Claire De Lune number Three; and most of Chopin’s music.

2. Classical music recordings that you treasure:

Again there are many I could list. A few that come to mind immediately include Jacqueline du Pre’s recording of Elgar’s Cello Concerto; Rostropovich’s recordings of Bach’s Cello Suites; the album John Williams Plays Spanish Music; Together by John Williams and Julian Bream; The Complete Guitar Recordings by Agustin Barrios

3. Favorite non-classical musicians and/or recordings:

I like all sorts of music, not just classical. For example, I enjoy listening to the Beatles, Pat Metheny, Edith Piaf and Charlie Parker. I like listening to the sound track of Black Orpheus by Luiz Bonfa and Antonio Carlos Jobim. I am also amazed by the Meeting of Spirits live performance by Paco de Lucia, Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin. Recently I have been listening to Portuguese Fado music; a particular favorite is the singer Mariza. I also enjoy the Cuban music of the Buena Vista Social Club.

4. Music that makes you cry – any genre:

Many pieces make me cry. Certain sections of all the music I listed in answer to question 1 can make me cry. I also get moved to tears when I perform some pieces, for example the slow movement of Rodrigo’s Concerto De Aranjuez, or Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra.

5. Definitely underrated work(s) or composer (s):

For guitar, I think the works of Giulio Regondi (a nineteenth century composer and guitar prodigy), and Silvius Leopold Weiss (a prolific composer, great lute player, and a contemporary of Bach) are underrated.

6. Possibly overrated work(s) or composer (s):

In my opinion, some of the sonatas in the guitar repertoire are over rated. Sometimes guitarists play sonatas just for the sake of playing longer pieces. However I think the piano and violin, for example, have many great sonatas to choose from. The fact is that there are very few truly good sonatas for guitar. However, there are many wonderful pieces in smaller form for the guitar.

7. Live music performance (s) you attended – any genre – that you’ll never forget:

The first time I heard John Williams play live in China, when I was still a teenager. He played the Spanish repertoire and the music stayed with me. Most recently, I recall a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Bernard Haitink in Beijing’s new National Centre. It was so memorable to hear one of the world’s best orchestra’s with a great conductor, playing in the new magnificent hall in my home town of Bejing. I also got the chance to shake hands with the conductor following the concert.

8. A few relatively recent films you love:

I enjoyed seeing the movie Mamma Mia, starring Meryl Streep. I also enjoyed watching Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts. I saw that movie three times. I also enjoy the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, starring Yun-Fat Chow, and directed by Ang Lee. As a Chinese person, I think this movie has greater meaning to me, as the English sub-titles do not really convey the subtlety of meaning that is present in the Chinese dialogue.

9. A few films you consider classics:

Some of my favourite include the movie Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour. I also like The Ladykillers with Peter Sellers, and It’s a Wonderful Life with James Stewart. The Pianist by Roman Polanski. Knowing about the history and culture of China, I am also deeply moved by the movie Fairwell my Concubine with Kaige Chen.

10. A book (or two) that is important to you (and why):

My diary! Many books have influenced me at different times and in different ways, but the one constant companion is my diary. I play many concerts all over the world, and need to have a close eye on my calendar.

11. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re most proud of:

I am most proud of the fact that I have been given the opportunity in life to enjoy music, and bring music to people around the world. It is a great privilege.

12. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re embarrassed by:

I get embarrassed if I am having a bad day performing on-stage.

13. Three things you can’t live without:

Music, my guitar, and my computer.

14. “When I want to get away from it all I…”

Take myself shopping! I also like to stay at home, read magazines, and put on some music.

15. “People are surprised to find out that I…”

am quite lively and humorous. Many people seem to expect a Chinese person to be more serious and demure.

16. “My favorite cities are…”

I love the history, architecture, romanticism and culture of Paris and Granada. I love the bustle, the food, and the mix of East and West that you can find in Hong Kong.

17. “I have a secret crush on…”

dogs – particularly golden retrievers, but I can’t keep one as I travel a lot.

18. “My most obvious guilty pleasure is…”

Leaving my guitar in its case for a couple of days, and having a break from practice.

19. “I’d really love to meet (or to have met)…”

The guitarist Segovia would be on my list as he was probably the person who established the guitar as a concert instrument. I would also love to meet the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, as I love the cello, and his music. The composer Isaac Albéniz would also be on my list as I am going to record his music this summer.

20. “I never understood why…”

I always try to have a clear answer to any question I am asked. I am realizing more and more that there isn’t always a simple answer to all questions, and that finding an answer is not always the way to deal with life. Music can help provide some meaning and light for these darker corners in our life.

BONUS QUESTION:

21. Question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer to that question):

Q: Would you like to come and perform in The White House?

A: Yes !

Complied and edited by Albert Imperato. For permission to post or print this interview write to aimperato@21cmediagroup.com.

“I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don’t want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I’d like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can’t be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.”

Later, Robbins’s Andy explains that the beauty of music is that no one else can take it away from you. “You need it so you don’t forget,” he tells Red. “Forget what?” is his response, to which Andy replies, “Forget that….there are places in the world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside…they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours.”

There are hundreds of postings of “Sull’Aria” on You Tube, including this one featuring Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess and Ileana Cotrubas as Susanna:

Star mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato takes us deeper into Mozart’s Figaro and points us toward these three other transcendent moments from this timeless masterpiece.

#1: “Non so più” (“I don’t know anymore”). The first time you meet Cherubino [the role Joyce sings in this opera] he sings this wonderful aria. He’s just been caught with a young servant girl, he’s lusting after the countess who’s the head of the household, and distracted by Susannah, who he’s pouring out his heart to. Hormones are racing through his body and we have our introduction to him: he’s hot and cold, up and down – a raging, hormonal adolescent. Towards the end of the aria, Mozart stops the music and the tempo slows down and he sings “And if nobody listens to me, I’ll talk to myself.” This shows the vulnerability and innocence in him. Watch video

#2 “Deh vieni” (“Oh, come”). Susanna sings this aria in the fourth act. She’s putting on a charade. She knows her new spouse Figaro is listening in the bushes, hiding, and she plays that she’s seducing another lover. She’s trying to teach Figaro about jealousy. This scene could be comical, or slightly cynical, but instead, Mozart makes it one of the most heartbreaking arias. She’s really pouring out her heart to Figaro in a theatrical context as a charade. It’s behind this mask that real humanity comes forth. Watch video

#3 “Contessa perdono” (“Countess, forgive me”). The Count sings this aria at the very end of the opera. He’s a lecherous creature and doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Once again, the chaos has stopped. He bends his knee and gives the most heartfelt, sincere pleading for forgiveness. Watch video

Joyce DiDonato recommends the Decca recording conducted by Sir Georg Solti and featuring Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess, Sam Ramey as the Count and Frederica von Stade as Cherubino.