About.

Hailed by The New York Times as “a beautiful woman who commands the stage” and “a major soprano,” Ailyn Pérez is in demand at the world’s leading opera houses and cultural capitals. As Opera News observes, “The phrase ‘an embarrassment of riches’ might have been invented to describe the combination of talents that belong to Ailyn Pérez … who truly seems to have it all.”  Internationally celebrated for her signature artistry, as the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award she became the first Hispanic recipient in the award’s history.

Ailyn’s current season is highlighted by her eagerly awaited debut as Leonora in a new production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore at Houston Grand Opera. She returns to The Metropolitan Opera to reprise her signature role of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, a performance she will also offer in a new production by Melanie Bacaling at the Lyric Opera of Chicago later in the spring. Additional operatic engagements include Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the title role in Puccini’s Tosca at Staatsoper Berlin, and Nedda in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci at the Bayerische Staatsoper. On the concert stage, she performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” with the Jacksonville Symphony and Bizet’s Carmen in concert with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jader Bignamini, celebrating the opera’s 150th anniversary.

Career highlights include Violetta (La traviata) at Opernhaus Zürich, the Hamburgische Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper, San Francisco Opera, Teatro alla Scala, and the Royal Opera House – Covent Garden, where she was hailed as “an ideal Violetta” (Observer, UK). Pérez then went on to appear at Covent Garden in the same season, as the title role in Massenet’s Manon, and for her role debut as Liù (Turandot). Other highlights include Thaïs, Mimì and Musetta (La bohème), and Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) at The Metropolitan Opera; Adina (L’elisir d’amore) for the Bayerische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper, and Washington National Opera; Contessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro) for Houston Grand Opera (having made her house debut there as Desdemona in Otello); Violetta and title role of Manon on a tour of Japan with the Royal Opera House; Tatyana Bakst in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Great Scott (featured on an acclaimed Erato recording release) and Manon for The Dallas Opera; house debuts at the Bolshoi Theatre as Mimì (La bohème) and at Glyndebourne as Alice Ford; Contessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro) and Marguerite (Faust) for Hamburgische Staatsoper; Marguerite (Faust) in Santa Fe and Amelia Grimaldi Simon Boccanegra at Teatro alla Scala and Staatsoper Berlin, and also opposite Leo Nucci at Opernhaus Zürich.

In concert, Ms. Pérez has performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montréal conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Mozart’s Requiem with Antonio Pappano and the Accademia Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Essen Philharmoniker. In recent seasons, Ailyn has made guest appearances at gala concerts for The Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House. Ailyn has also appeared in recital for London’s Rosenblatt Recitals at Wigmore Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, and with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Her debut album, “Poème d’un jour” (a program of French and Italian songs on the Opus Arte label) was released to rave reviews, with the UK’s Independent newspaper awarding it five stars, while International Record Review confessed, “Every so often, a singer comes along who completely bowls you over.”

Her voice has a distinctive timbre, with plaintive richness blended into its youthful bloom ... Ms. Pérez, a beautiful woman who commands the stage, has the makings of a major soprano.

Anthony Tommasini
The New York Times
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Ailyn Pérez confirms her outstanding artistic qualities. Her beautiful and generous voice, her commanding technique as well as the broadest possible spectrum of feelings allow her to make a captivating drama of every piece.

Remy Franck
Pizzicato

Ailyn’s triumphant 2023/24 season marked her eagerly anticipated debut as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly at Teatro di San Carlo, a role she subsequently reprised at Houston Grand Opera and Teatro Real de Madrid. She also made a thrilling role debut as Florencia Grimaldi in a new production of Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas at The Metropolitan Opera, where she captivated audiences and critics alike. As the New York Times raved, “Pérez is, appropriately, the uncontested star: wistful, tender and sincere, her voice… generously delivered, her high notes glistening.” She also starred as Micaëla in Carmen at the Met. Further highlights included her Washington Concert Opera debut as Magda in La Rondine and her portrayal of Tosca at Hamburg State Opera. Beyond the opera house, Ailyn paid tribute to Renée Fleming at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala, and performed at the prestigious Richard Tucker Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall. She also commemorated the centenary of Giacomo Puccini’s death with a special concert alongside La Súper in Monterrey, Mexico, under the baton of Abdiel Vázquez.

A highlight of her discography, Ailyn joined forces with Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang for the 2019/20 release of Mi Corazón. The digtial album, available exclusively on Apple Music and iTunes, is a heartfelt exploration of Ailyn’s rich musical heritage, featuring beloved Spanish and Portuguese songs, as well as works by Manuel de Falla, Manuel Ponce, and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Ailyn Pérez is a graduate of Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts and Indiana University. She serves as an Artistic Advisor and on the faculty for the Vincerò Academy and is an Opera for Peace Ambassador. Her many accolades include the Metropolitan Opera’s Beverly Sills Artist Award (2016), George London Foundation’s Leonie Rysanek Award (2006), Shoshana Foundation Career Grant (2007), 2nd place in the 2006 Operalia Competition, and honors from the Loren L. Zachary Foundation, Opera Index, and the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation.

Biography current as of July 2024 – please replace all previous versions.

Perez’s lyric soprano is pure and honeyed in tone, and she deploys it with elegance and tenderness … Perez is also a natural actress ...

Mike Silverman
Associated Press