Cancellations for Mariusz Kwiecien continue

Luca Micheletti and Mariusz Kwiecien

Barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien continues to cancel performances, with the latest being as Rodrigo in Verdi's Don Carlo at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He will be replaced by fellow barihunk Luca Micheletti, who will be making his company debut in the June 29th performance. This is Kwiecien's second cancellation with the company. Germán E. Alcántara and ByeongMin Gil are also replacing previously announced singers as Flemish deputies.

Micheletti will join a cast that includes Michael Fabiano in the title role, Hibla Gerzmava as Elisabeta, Ferruccio Furlanetto as Filippo II, and Elina Garanca as Princess Eboli. The performances scheduled for July 13, 16, 19 will include Plácido Domingo as Rodrigo. Ticket and cast information is available online.

Luca Micheletti sings "Credo" from Verdi's Otello:

This is the latest in a series of cancellations for Kwiecien, including three with the Dallas Opera, withdrawing from the The Met's Pearl Fishers and as the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dr. Malatesta in Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and the Count in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at the Bavarian State Opera.

Repeated attempts to get a get a comment from his US and European agents have gone unanswered. There is also no information on his website. We wish him a speedy and healthy recovery to the opera stage.

Mariusz Kwiecien cancellations continue

Mariusz Kwiecien in Pearl Fishers and Don Giovanni

Barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien continues to cancel performances, including a third cancellation with the Dallas Opera. The company announced that he has withdrawn as Rodrigo in their upcoming production of Verdi’s Don Carlo. He will be replaced by fellow barihunk Lucas Meachem. Kwiecien withdrew from the title role in their production of Mozart's Don Giovanni in April 2018 and Bizet's Pearl Fishers in January. Kwiecien is scheduled to sing Rodrigo at Covent Garden this summer.

Meachem will join an all-star cast in Dallas that includes Jamie Barton, Leah Crocetto, Robert Watson, Morris Robinson, Andrea Silvestrelli and David Leigh. Performances run from March 20-28 and tickets are available online. Tickets are available online. 

Kwiecien's notable recent cancellations also include withdrawing from the The Met's Pearl Fishers and as the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dr. Malatesta in Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and the Count in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at the Bavarian State Opera.

Repeated attempts to get a get a comment from his US and European agents have gone unanswered. We wish him a speedy and healthy recovery to the opera stage.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky cancels all Vienna performances

Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Photo: Pavel Antonov)

According to the Associated Press, the Vienna State Opera says Siberian barihunk Dmitri Hvorostovsky has canceled all performances for the coming season due to “severe illness.”

Hvorostovsky was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015. He has continued performing since them but has occasionally been forced to pull out of scheduled roles. His website currently lists no upcoming performances.

He was due to play leading roles in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, Otello and Rigoletto in Vienna this year and next. A statement yesterday says replacements will be announced later.

Simon Keenlyside cancelling all performances through April

Simon Keenlyside

Simon Keenlyside has posted a message on his fan site that he is cancelling all of his performances through April in order to rest his vocal cords. He is withdrawing from Verdi's Falstaff is Munich, his March concert at Avery Fisher Hall in New York, as well as Don Carlo at the Met and in Munich.

We wish him a speedy recover and look forward to his expected return for Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in Munich.