(Credit: Fay Fox)

Elaine Alvarez made a surprise return to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on June 23, 2019.

The soprano was asked by Riccardo Muti to step in last minute for Krassimira Stoyanova to sing the concert performance of Verdi’s “Aida” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She joined soloists Francesco Meli, Anita Rachvelishvili, and Ildar Abdrazakov.

The appearance marked the return of Alvarez to Chicago where she made her debut in 2007 as a last-minute replacement as Mimì in “La Bohème” with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also performed with the company in 2010 as Micaëla in “Carmen.”

The soprano previously worked with Muti in 2008 on tour with the Ravenna Festival performing the Soprano Soloist in Rossini’s “Stabat Mater.

Alvarez recently made her role debut as Aida at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liege and is set to sing the role of Mimì in “La Bohème” at the Finger Lakes Opera.