“He had a more than capable partner in soprano Elaine Alvarez, whose performance as Desdemona [in Otello] was a marvel of athleticism and tonal beauty. Alvarez sings with a throaty magnificence that is full of fire and urgency, and she does it while maintaining full command of pitch and phrasing.

 Nowhere was that more evident than in her big vocal showpiece in the opera’s final act, combining the poignant strains of the “Willow Song” with the mournful simplicity of the “Ave Maria.” Alvarez shaped this scene over an impressive span of time, building phrase upon phrase with ever-growing eloquence.”