SOPRANO AILYN PÉREZ WITHDRAWS FROM ROLE DEBUT
AS TATYANA IN EUGENE ONEGIN
DALLAS, TX, APRIL 29, 2016 – Acclaimed American soprano Ailyn Pérez, winner of the Richard Tucker Award and the 2016 Beverly Sills Artist Award, is withdrawing from her scheduled starring role in The Dallas Opera’s 2016 Season Opener, Eugene Onegin.
Citing concerns that her voice may not yet be right for the demands of “Tatyana” in Tchaikovsky’s late-nineteenth-century masterpiece, Ms. Pérez has requested and received permission to delay this role debut.
Ms. Pérez thrilled Dallas Opera audiences earlier this season in the title role of Manon and in her scene-stealing role of “Tatyana Bakst” in the world premiere of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Great Scott. Willard Spiegelman of Opera News noted, “…with dazzling vocal coloratura and a commanding dramatic presence she lit up the stage.”
“We knew how lucky we were to be able to enjoy Ailyn’s incredible artistry twice in the same season,” says The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, Keith Cerny. “Her voice, her beauty, her captivating stage presence and acting abilities have catapulted her into the top echelon of stars working onstage today. We look forward to casting her again soon at The Dallas Opera, and we hope our audiences will applaud Ailyn’s courage, in making this carefully considered decision.”
The role of Tatyana in The Dallas Opera’s Eugene Onegin will be recast immediately. The upcoming production, from Tel Aviv Opera, stars the electrifying Ukrainian baritone Andrei Bondarenko and marks the American debut of Estonian mezzo-soprano Kai Rüütel as “Olga.”