
Desdemona
Otello
"Maija Kovalevska's Desdemona was a treat for the ears and the eyes. Her voice has grown in size and is now a full lyric soprano perfect for Verdi roles such as this one. It shows that she is a pupil of Mirella Freni, specially in the way she sings this role, which was such an iconic Freni role. Her phrasing is exquisite, her sound blooms in the middle register with warmth and amplitude and she has blazing high notes that fill the theater. As an actress, Kovalevska portrayed Desdemona as an innocent yet strong woman who faced her death with courage and proving, through this sacrifice, her love for Otello. Her voice soars effortlessly through the orchestra, especially in the concertante of the end of Act III. She sang a very touching "Canzone del Salice" and an ethereal "Ave Maria". Desdemona fits like a glove in Kovalevska's voice and we hope she will keep this role in her repertory and will sing it more often in the future."