Ailyn Pérez, at the start of her career, is a mischievous Norina

Donizetti: DON PASQUALE - So anch'io la virtù magica, Berlin concert, 2008 High E-flat

THE SONGBIRD: Ailyn Pérez was born in Chicago in 1979, the daughter of Mexican immigrants.She attended the Indiana University School of Music and the Philadelphia Academy of Vocal Arts, graduating in 2006. That year she placed second at Operalia and received the Wolf Trap Opera Award. She was honored twice by the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, once as the second-place winner in 2004, then with the Distinguished Achievement Award In 2016. Perez is the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award and the Beverly Sills Award in 2016. Her professional career began by touring with Andrea Bocelli as a guest soprano in 2006. Her breakout Salzburg Festival debut was Juliette in 2008. Her debut role at The Met was Micaela in 2015 -- she has since notched 74 performances with the company (Alice Ford, Juliette, Mimi, Musetta, Tatyana, Thaïs, Countess Almaviva, Blanche de la Force, and Florencia). Other roles have included Violetta (Berlin, Vienna, London, Zurich, San Francisco), Manon (London, Dallas), Marguerite (Hamburg, Santa Fe), Mimi (Cincinnati, Moscow, Paris), Adina (Munich, Vienna, Washington DC), Cio-Cio San (Madrid, Venice), Elvira in "Ernani" (La scala), and Donna Anna (Houston).

THE MUSIC: Donizetti’s 1843 comic opera "Don Pasquale" is regularly produced due to its appealing score, clever libretto, and small ensemble cast of just four principal soloists (plus one minor role). "So anch'io la virtù magica" introduces the young widow Norina -- a coloratura soubrette role. The aria begins with a brief introduction whereby Norina reads a romantic passage from a book ("Quel guardo, il cavaliere"), then in the following aria, she reveals her own feelings on the topic. Her sly nature can be heard clearly in the music, such as the many short grace notes embedded into the melody and a long exposed trill held over six measures. This aria is one that is often embellished differently among sopranos -- here Perez adds a short flourish to High E-flat.