Ailyn Pérez dominates the Met's Bohème

Dmytro Popov (Rodolfo) and Ailyn Pérez (Mimì)

La bohème, Act 2

Emily Pogorelc (Musetta) and Boris Pinkhasovich (Marcello)

By Kevin W Ng, 18 November 2024

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“Pérez has a winning charisma”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 16 November 2024

Puccini, La bohème

Metropolitan Opera

Kensho Watanabe, Conductor

Franco Zeffirelli, Director, Set Designer

Peter J. Hall, Costume Designer

Gil Wechsler, Lighting Designer

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

Dmytro Popov, Rodolfo

Ailyn Pérez, Mimì

Boris Pinkhasovich, Marcello

Emily Pogorelc, Musetta

Gihoon Kim, Schaunard

Bogdan Taloș, Colline

Donald Maxwell, Benoît, Alcindoro

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The Lithuanian soprano’s riveting performance as the central character in Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece lights up Deborah Warner’s mostly bland production.

****1

Innocence: Saariaho’s final opera receives New York premiere

Kurt Gottschalk, 6th April

At the Metropolitan Opera, Innocence proves a gripping and perhaps divisive piece which feels real because it is a reflection of our reality, with no realistic hope of finding peace.

*****

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No’a L. bat Miri, 9th March

Michael Spyres shines in his debut as Tristan alongside powerhouse soprano Lise Davidsen as Isolde in Yuval Sharon's new, beguiling production at the Metropolitan Opera.

***11

Ailyn Pérez is the perfect Butterfly in the Met’s revival

Robert Levine, 13th January

Good Butterflys are not that difficult to come by but great ones are very very rare. Ailyn Pérez fits the bill in this revival of Anthony Minghella’s classic staging.

*****

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*****

Porgy and Bess returns stronger than ever at the Met

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*****

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Kevin W Ng

Kevin writes about music and culture, with a focus on opera. Originally trained as a violinist, he has a particular interest in 20th-century music. He is currently based in New York City.