Theatre News

Royal Opera announces cast changes

Such is the nature of international opera that cast changes are common. The latest casualty at Covent Garden, due to ill-health, is Spanish baritone Carlos Alvarez, who has withdrawn from the role of Renato in all performances of Un ballo in maschera in June/July.

Editorial Staff

| London |

18 March 2009

In the same month, Tosca will now be conducted by Canadian conductor Jacques Lacombe, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, marking his debut with The Royal Opera. Due to personal reasons, Daniel Oren has had to withdraw.

The cast remains unchanged with Deborah Voigt as Tosca, Marcello Giordani as Cavaradossi, Bryn Terfel as Scarpia, Kostas Smoriginas as Angelotti, Jeremy White as Sacristan and Martyn Hill as Spoletta.

The role of Renato in Un ballo in maschera will now be sung by Slovakian baritone Dalibor Jenis, who made his debut in the role in December 2003 at Deutsche Oper Berlin and has subsequently sung it in Hamburg and for Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin. Jenis made his debut at the Royal Opera House in 2000 as Marcello (in La bohème) and subsequent roles have included Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and Valentin (Faust) in 2006.

The rest of the cast remains unchanged with Ramon Vargas as Riccardo, Angela Marambio as Amelia, Elena Manistina as Ulrica, Anna Christy as Oscar, Vuyani Mlinde as Tom, Giovanni Battista Parodi as Sam, Changhan Lim as Silvano and Martyn Hill as Minister for Justice. Maurizio Benini conducts all performances. The performances run from 26 June to 11 July.