Only a week after The Royal Opera announced that Bryn Terfel has withdrawn from the new production of The Ring Cycle, a further press release has just announced that tenor Rolando Villazón has similarly withdrawn from all performances of the company's new production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. His replacement in the part of Nemorino has not yet been anounced.
The news comes as a blow to the company, as it marks the second withdrawal of a major star from a high-profile production in the autumn season. However, there is less surprise in this instance, as Villazón had already cancelled most of his summer engagements due to health problems.
The press release reads:
'The Royal Opera announced today that Rolando Villazón has regrettably withdrawn from all his scheduled performances of L'elisir d'amore which were due to open at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday 13 November 2007.
'Rolando Villazón had previously cancelled all his engagements since mid July under doctor's instruction, but hoped that he would be well enough to return to Covent Garden in October to begin rehearsals for this new production. However, he has been advised to continue his recuperation for a further period of time and he is now planning to return to the stage in early 2008.
'He is still scheduled to sing the title role in a new production of Don Carlo in June 2008.
'An announcement of his replacement will be made as soon as possible.'
Audiences will be sad to miss out on this opportunity to hear Villazón's Nemorino, a part that he has recorded on DVD opposite Anna Netrebko. Nobody who heard his Lensky in last year's Eugene Onegin or his assumption of the title role in Les contes d'Hoffmann in 2004 will have forgotten the mixture of charisma and vocal sumptuousness that he brings to the stage. Other Covent Garden appearances as the Duke of Mantua and Rodolfo suggested that this L'elisir d'amore would be a season highlight.
Photo credit: Pamela Stephenson, Virgin Classics