Ailyn Pérez brings her “ideal Desdemona” (Houston Chronicle) in Verdi’s Otello to audiences in China, appearing with the Bayerische Staatsoper at the Shanghai Theatre on October 2 and 5. It’s just one of several appearances with the company this season. She will also reprise her “sophisticated, technically brilliant” (Klassik begeistert) portrayal of Nedda in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, bows as Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust, and sings the title role in Puccini’s Tosca.
Pérez has found great success with this captivating role; her debut performances at Houston Grand Opera were highly praised, with the Houston Press raving, “a beauty on stage, she conquered, soaring in the love duet, later defiantly protesting her innocence, or tenderly saying her prayers,” and Classical Voice America saying she “commands a winning stage manner, a full mid-range, smooth legato, and steadiness in all registers.”
Performed in concert, Otello will be conducted by Daniele Rustioni, leading an extraordinary cast of Verdians. Arsen Soghomonyan sings the title role, with Aleksei Isaev as Iago, Long Long as Cassio, and Natalie Lewis as Emilia.