In January 2012, Dessay starred in the premiere of Coline Serreau's production of Massenet's "Manon" in the title role at the Opéra Bastille. She returned to the Met in April for Willy Decker's production of "La traviata", where she was replaced by Hong Hei-kyung on the opening night and, in another performance, after the first act, due to a cold. In October she returned to the Opéra Bastille to star in Pelly's production of "La fille du régiment". She was originally going to portray all main heroines in "The Tales of Hoffmann" at the Salle Pleyel, yet she withdrew for unspecified reasons and was replaced by Sonya Yoncheva. In 2013, she limited herself to Antonia in a revival of Pelly's production of the same opera, which took place at the Liceu and the San Francisco Opera. In April 2013, she was featured as Cleopatra in David McVicar's production of "Giulio Cesare" at the Metropolitan Opera.