Singing the role of Mimì is rising soprano Ailyn Pérez, who brings her "inner radiance combined with vocal luster" (Philadelphia Inquirer) to her Cincinnati Opera debut. She recently sang the role of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Salzburg Festival and San Diego Opera, and the roles of the four heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where her "performance was a golden strand that glittered through the opera" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
Joining Pérez is tenor (and Pérez's real-life husband) Stephen Costello singing the role of Rodolfo. His debut on the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera's 2007-08 season as Arturo in the Met's new production of Lucia di Lammermoor under conductor James Levine announced the arrival of a major new tenor. Prior to his Cincinnati Opera appearance, he sang the role of Greenhorn in the world premiere of Jake Heggie's Moby Dick at Dallas Opera, Rodolfo at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Romeo (Romeo and Juliet) at San Diego Opera.
After great success in the role of Madame Mao in Cincinnati Opera's Nixon in China (2007), American soprano Georgia Jarman returns to sing the role of Musetta. Hailed by The New York Times for her "luminous, appealing and agile voice," Jarman has delighted audiences worldwide with her charm and musicality.
Baritone Marco Caria sings the role of Marcello, returning to Cincinnati Opera following an impressive company debut as Rodrigo in 2009's Don Carlo. Of his performance, the Cincinnati Enquirer declared, "one of the great young baritones of our time has arrived."
Bass Denis Sedov performs his second role of the season as Colline. Singing with a "beautifully phrased and nuanced" baritone (Opera, U.K.), Christopher Schaldenbrand makes his company debut as Schaunard. Metropolitan Opera regular and Cincinnati resident Thomas Hammons sings Benoit, and Nathan Stark sings the role of Alcindoro.
John Keenan takes the podium, offering his "exceptionally sensitive conducting" (The New Yorker). Cincinnati Opera is proud to present La Bohème in a new co-production with the English National Opera, directed by "Britain's best known opera director" (The Guardian, U.K.), Sir Jonathan Miller, with sets and costumes by Isabella Bywater, and lighting by resident lighting designer Thomas C. Hase.
Ailyn
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