“When soprano Ailyn Pérez took the stage, the electricity in the room was palpable. With consummate Latin fire, she performed a quartet of songs by the 20th c. Spanish composer Fernando Obradors.
“La mi sola, Laureola” began with an a capella passage for the soprano and then the gentle filigree of the piano entered. We became entranced. By the time the pair got to “Del cabello mas sutil” we were melting into the seat. “El vito” is a folk song which Obradors set in wild rhythm and it was performed with incredible vitality. Even the gifted but unassuming collaborative pianist Ken Noda caught fire!
This Latin charmer showed another side of her artistry with the verismo aria “Ebben! Ne Andrò Lontana” from Catalani’s La Wally.”