Meet Kentucky Opera’s New Otello

“Arguably, this is Verdi’s most challenging dramatic tenor role, which means there are few tenors today who sing Otello, and of those that do, most of them are already booked for that period. We had a serious challenge in front of us, so we acted quickly.”

Roth continues “We are now pleased to announce that John Mac Master w ill join the highly sought after American soprano, Kelly Kaduce as Desdemona in our opening production of Otello. “

Also making his Kentucky Opera debut in Otello is internationally acclaimed baritone Donnie Ray Albert as Iago. Roth says “We were ecstatic to discover that Donnie Ray was available and delighted to be asked to sing this powerful role with us. He had an opening in his 2008 schedule, which created a great opportunity for Kentucky Opera .”

John Mac Master (Otello)

Since his astonishing portrayal of Canio in PAGLIACCI at Glimmerglass Opera, John Mac Master has been in high demand for dramatic tenor repertoire. Recent performances and recording projects include Florestan in FIDELIO with Sir Colin Davis in London , Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Sir Bernard Haitink and his debut at Dresden ’s Semper Oper as Calaf in TURANDOT conducted by Fabio Luisi.

Mr. Mac Master’s acclaimed Metropolitan Opera debut came as Canio in PAGLIACCI in performances that included the Saturday Afternoon ‘Live from the Met’ radio broadcast. Of particular note for 2006-2007 was his debut at the Welsh National Opera starring as Tristan in TRISTAN UND ISOLDE. His schedule last season also included performances of Verdi’s REQUIEM at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Aegisth in ELEKTRA for the Canadian Opera Company, Janacek’s GLAGOLITIC MASS with William Eddins and the Edmonton Symphony plus PAGLIACCI and ARIADNE AUF NAXOS (both for Vancouver Opera). During the 2007-2008 season, the New Brunswick born tenor sang excerpts from GOTTERDAMMERUNG with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig and he debuted with Orquestra Sinfonica de Barcelona and Eiji Oue in Schonberg’s GURRELIEDER.

For Opera de Quebec, Mac Master made his role debut in OTELLO and returned to Canio in PAGLIACCI for Vancouver Opera. He returned to the Met as cover artist for TRISTAN UND ISOLDE and sang Verdi’s REQUIEM for the Kansas City Symphony. Further into the future are engagements with the Seattle Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 , L’Orchestre symphonique du Grand Montreal for DAS LIED VON DER ERDE and with Vancouver Opera for Herodes in SALOME.

Kelly Kaduce (Desdamona)

Debuting the role of Desdemona and making her Kentucky Opera debut, Kelly Kaduce is swiftly gaining national recognition for her “plangent, amber-toned soprano, glamour girl looks and artless, affecting dramatic style.” (Opera News) Ms. Kaduce has garnered thunderous praise for her stage portrayals, most recently for her star-making turn in David Carlson's Anna Karenina for Florida Grand Opera and Opera Theater of St. Louis.

Entertainment News averred, "In a career making role, Kelly Kaduce dominates the stage. With high notes that thrill and a creamy middle range, this gifted young soprano delivers vocal velvet. But she is also a great singingactress. Kaduce brings Anna’s passion and tragedy vividly alive. Her death scene weaves a dramatic display of vocal colors and intense theatricality. This is an authentically great performance."

Her 2007-08 season included her debut with Opera Pacific in her signature role of Mimi in La Boheme paced by Maestro Eduardo Muller, and her return to Malmo Opera as Marguerite in Faust , to Minnesota Opera in her first assumption of the title role in Rusalka , and to Opera Theatre of St. Louis in the title role of Madam Butterfly .

Other past highlights include her New York City Opera debut in 2002 as Gretel in Hansel und Gretel , her first performances of Pamina in Die Zauberflote with Atlanta Opera. Among Kelly Kaduce's additional concert credits are Mahler's Symphony No. 2 , Barber's Prayers of Kierkegaard , and Argento's Casa Guidi . She has also appeared with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra as soloist in Beethoven's Egmont .

Donny Ray Albert (Iago)

In past seasons, Donny Ray Albert has performed with the opera companies of Cincinnati , Dallas , Chicago , Los Angeles , New York City, Washington DC , Houston , Miami , Atlanta , Austin , Minnesota , Utah , New Orleans , Baltimore , Columbus , Omaha , Calgary , Edmonton , Canadian, Montreal , Manitoba , Vancouver , Berlin , Giessen , Bordeaux , Koln, Bregenz, Milan , Mannheim and Hamburg.

As a concert artist, Mr. Albert has sung with the orchestras of Washington DC (National), Koln, Chicago , Houston , Dallas , Jerusalem , Seattle , Minnesota , St. Paul , Los Angeles , Palm Beach , Grant Park Music Festival, and Madison , Vienna and Linz , Austria . He has served as a resident artist with the Center for Black Music Research at Chicago 's Columbia College . Mr. Albert appeared at President Carter's Inauguration and in London 's Royal Festival Hall.

Born in Louisiana , Donnie Ray Albert earned a Bachelor of Music Degree at Louisiana State University and a Master of Music Degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas , Texas .

Mr. Albert may be heard on RCA's Grammy Award and Grand Prix du Disque winning recording of Porgy and Bess ; NOW's recording of The Horse I Ride Has Wings with David Garvey on piano; EMI's Fruhlingsbegrabnis and Eine Florentinesche Tragodie by Zemlinsky conducted by James Conlon; Simon Sargon's A Clear Midnight on Gasparo label; and Harold Blumenfeld's Mythologies on Albany label; the recently recorded world premiere of Franz Liszt's St. Stanislaus on Telarc ; Donnie Ray Albert In Recital with Jo Anne Ritacca on piano and Tearless , the song cycles of Robert Owens, with Mr. Owens at piano, on Cinnabar Records. -- www.kyopera.org