Natives of Brazil Atalla Ayan and Marilia Caputo performed Saturday night at Whitmore Recital Hall, bringing an evening of traditional opera to the school of music.

Together the tenor, Ayan, and pianist, Caputo, performed 14 songs drawn from their extensive classical background and various operatic productions including Charles Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” and Puccini’s “La Bohéme.”

Opera might generally not be considered a favorite genre of college crowds, but audience response was enthusiastic and the pair of performers played two encores, dedicating the second to their local host family.

“It was pretty amazing,” senior Alison Tatum said. “I’ve never really been to a full-on voice recital before, but this one was fantastic.”

Ayan’s talent as both a singer and actor was self-evident when he performed pieces as diverse and complex as Vincenzo Bellini’s “Dolente Immagine,” a mournful love song, and Gounud’s joyful “Ah! L’éve-toi, soleil!” with equal amounts of emotion. Other standouts of the night included Ottorino Respighi’s “Nebbie” and Ludgwig von Beethoven’s “Adelaide.”

In addition to his concert at MU, Ayan has performed as part of an ensemble with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the Greek National Opera in Athens.

Andre Matos, who once studied alongside Ayan at the Conservatorio Carlos Gomes in Belém, Brazil, agreed.

“He is perfect,” he said. “I’ve known him a long time, and he is just getting better and better and better every time I hear him sing.”

Caputo also received her fair share of praise for her dynamic, enthusiastic accompaniment to Ayan’s voice.

“It’s a pleasure to listen to,” local violist Busya Lugovier said. “It’s not just about the voice, it’s the wonderful organic chemistry between the piano and the vocalist. It’s a wonderful collaboration and dialogue between the two of them.”