CZECH SOPRANO TO SING ROLE OF DESDEMONA

Gabriela Benackova will sing the role of Desdemona opposite Placido Domingo in Music Center Opera’s season-opening production of Verdi’s “Otello” tonight and Friday. The Czech soprano is replacing Daniela Dessi, who reportedly collapsed at the Milan, Italy, airport last week.

A native of Bratislava, Benackova has appeared at opera houses in Vienna, Berlin, London, Stuttgart (where she sang opposite Domingo in “Otello”) and Buenos Aires, and is scheduled to make her Metropolitan Opera debut as Micaela in “Carmen. She recently sang the title role in “Jenufa” at San Francisco Opera.

Casting for the Sunday afternoon matinee will be announced later, according to a spokesman for Music Center Opera.