I didn’t have to wait long to see my favorite opera of the 25/26 season. Barely after the curtain fell in London, I was already on a plane heading 2h30 south to Madrid—a city I hadn’t visited in almost three years, since a wonderful memory of a beautiful Sonnambula!
This time, I was there for Otello, and especially to discover Jorge de León in the title role, with Vladimir Stoyanov as Iago. The Bulgarian baritone is, in my eyes, becoming one of today’s finest Verdian baritones, so you can imagine my excitement and anticipation to hear him in such an iconic role.

As I always say when introducing someone to Otello (the last time was just three weeks ago with my colleague Vinicius), most people tend to remember the baritone role above all else—proof of how essential this part really is.

Last night, I attended the second cast of Otello. The first featured Brian Jagde in his role debut alongside the much talked-about soprano Asmik Grigorian. Unfortunately, scheduling didn’t allow me to catch that cast, so I was eager to see the alternate.

Another reason for my excitement: the brand-new staging, opening the Teatro Real’s new season with nothing less than Verdi’s most complex masterpiece. Knowing I’ll be seeing Otello again later this year in Strasbourg, Prague, Catania, Liège, and Parma only fueled my impatience as my plane touched down in Madrid.

And what about the “fireworks” promised? What about this first opera of the season at a theater where tickets go for a fortune (mine cost €330—more expensive than La Scala, Garnier, or even Vienna)?

Well… it turned out to be, without a doubt, the most beautiful evening of my 2025.

First, because in just a split second, on the opening “Esultate”, I fell in love with Jorge de León’s voice. I had never heard him in this role before, and if you know me, you know Otello is the greatest opera for me: the most beautiful role, the work I’ve listened to all my life, down to the tiniest breath, and a score on which I am merciless when it comes to interpretation. But from the very first bar, Jorge de León hooked me. His voice was dramatic, tragic, electrified by the sublime staging. He may not yet convey the same raw emotion Gregory Kunde brings in “Dio! mi potevi”—which I was waiting for with even more rage in the eyes (yes, I know I’m picky about details no one else notices, but they matter so much in this role). Still, Jorge de León entered, for me, the legend of the greatest live Otello performances I’ve ever experienced.

Then came Otello’s companion, Maria Agresta as Desdemona. My God, what a joy. For me, she’s the most underrated soprano in the world today, yet firmly in my top five. She elevated the tragic wife with an incredible performance—on one hand, with her powerful acting, and on the other, with the deep emotion shining in her eyes. She embodied a Desdemona who was strong, determined, and unforgettable.

And finally, the great villain of the evening: Iago, sung by Vladimir Stoyanov. What can I say but bravo? The climax of his interpretation was without a doubt “Desdemona rea”, a ten-minute masterclass alongside Jorge de León. It was a lesson in class, power, and how to embody Iago: a role almost bipolar in nature, yet performed with icy calm and madness lurking in the eyes. Simply stunning.

Even the smaller roles were top-notch. Cassio, sung by Airam Hernández, was a wonderful discovery. Special mention as well to In Sung Sim, whose bass voice was gorgeous. With time, I’m sure he’ll rely less on watching the conductor and focus more on projecting to the audience, but the talent is undeniable.

And to crown the evening, one of today’s greatest conductors: Nicola Luisotti. The Italian maestro from Viareggio once again demonstrated all his class. Being less than a meter away from him for 2h30 was an experience that contributed hugely to the magic of the night.

Ladies and gentlemen, Teatro Real de Madrid: thank you for this moment, thank you for this evening. It’s for nights like this that I do round trips of 2000 kilometers in 24 hours. That’s exactly why.

CAST

Otello
Jorge de León
 

Iago
Vladimir Stoyanov
 

Cassio
Airam Hernández

Roderigo
Albert Casals
 

Lodovico
In Sung Sim

Montano / Un heraldo
Fernando Radó

Desdemona
Maria Agresta
 

Emilia
Enkelejda Shkoza