Bryn Terfel, one of the most popular singers of his time, has withdrawn from The Royal Opera's production of the Ring Cycle in Autumn 2007, the company announced today. He will be replaced in the role of Wotan/Wanderer by Sir John Tomlinson, widely acclaimed for his assumptions of the role around the world during the last two decades.
Terfel was to have appeared in two of the three cycles, which start on 2 October and are to be the first time that Keith Warner's production of the four Ring operas will be seen in complete cycles. It was the most hotly-anticipated event of the autumn opera season; tickets sold out for all performances within four hours, perhaps most especially because of the opportunity to see Terfel sing his first complete Ring (Tomlinson took the role of the Wanderer in Siegfried when the production of that part of the Ring was unveiled in autumn 2005).
In a statement to the press, The Royal Opera 'expressed shock and surprise at Bryn Terfel's cancellation, acknowledging the disappointment it will bring to audiences who were looking forward to seeing him perform in a complete Ring Cycle for the first time.'
Terfel cited family reasons for the withdrawal, saying: 'I am deeply sorry that I feel it necessary to cancel my performances at Covent Garden this autumn. I have had a particularly stressful family situation involving one of my children this summer which has affected the time I had put aside to prepare for this challenging role. Having begun rehearsals it is clear to me that I would not be able to perform at the standard I would wish to, and rather than progressing through rehearsal in the hope that I might make it, I feel it is better for The Royal Opera and the fantastic team working on this epic production that I withdraw at this stage.'
Despite the inevitable disappointment, audiences will surely be in safe hands with Sir John Tomlinson's Wotan. He was already scheduled to appear in the second of the three cycles and has been the leading Wotan of the last twenty years. Earlier in the year, he won the Society of London Theatres Special Olivier Award for Outstanding Contribution to Opera and The Arts. He was also originally scheduled to sing the role of Hagen in Götterdämmerung, but has understandably had to pass it on to another singer, Kurt Rydl, who will sing it on 1 October and 2 November. A further announcement regarding casting for Hagen on 9 and 24 October will apparently be made shortly.
Photo of Bryn Terfel as Wotan: Clive Barda