On July 1, 7, 10, 16 & 21, Ailyn Pérez returns to the Teatro Real de Madrid to perform as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. This production, helmed by Damiano Michieletto, offers a fresh take on the classic opera. Pérez debuted in this role earlier this season at Teatro di San Carlo and has also performed it at Houston Grand Opera, where she received critical acclaim:
“American soprano Ailyn Peréz makes a lovely Cio-Cio-San. She has a rich, creamy voice that caresses Puccini’s difficult tessitura and can ring out those high notes with ease. She’s an accomplished actor and conveys her character’s journey from innocence to maturity with agility. While delving deeply into her character, she tends to go soft, as if talking conversationally, which isn’t what you usually hear in an Italian opera. She makes us lean in.” (Houston Press)
Under the baton of Nicola Luisotti, Ms. Pérez joins a star-studded cast, including Nino Surguladze as Suzuki, Charles Castronovo as FB Pinkerton, Gerardo Bullón as Sharpless, Moisés Marín as Goro, Toni Marsol as Prince Yamadori, George Andguladze as Uncle Bozo, and Marta Fontanals-Simmons as Kate Pinkerton.