100% Cast Change Announcement

The fourth shoe drops and we now have 100% turnover since the Met season announcement in March:

Sir Bryn Terfel has had to withdraw from the Met’s new production of Puccini’s Tosca as he takes enforced rest due to vocal fatigue. Željko Lučić will sing the role of Scarpia on December 31, 2017, and January 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 23, and 27 (matinee), 2018.

“I am extremely disappointed to have to cancel these performances,” said Sir Bryn. “I was particularly happy to be returning to the Metropolitan Opera with this exciting new staging, and it is a terrible shame not to be a part of it.”

As a consequence of the change, Lučić, who was scheduled to sing the role of Alfio in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, will be replaced by George Gagnidze for performances on January 8, 13 (matinee), 17, 20 (matinee), and 25, 2018. Lučić will still sing Alfio for the final two performances on January 29 and February 1, 2018.

Željko Lučić made his Met debut in 2006 as Barnaba in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda and has sung 12 roles with the company, including the title role in Nabucco, Amonasro in Aida, Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, and Iago in a new production of Otello which opened the 2015–16 season. His performances as Iago, the title role of Rigoletto, and the title role of Macbeth, opposite Anna Netrebko, have all been seen throughout the world as part of the Met’s Live in HD series. He previously sang the role of Scarpia at the Met in 2015.

Sir David McVicar’s new staging of Tosca, conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, opens on December 31, starring Sonya Yoncheva as Tosca and Vittorio Grigolo as Cavaradossi. The January 27 matinee will be transmitted live as part of the Met’s Live in HD series, which reaches more than 2,000 movie theaters in 73 countries around the world.

Later performances beginning April 21 will star Anna Netrebko in the title role opposite Marcelo Álvarez as Cavaradossi and Michael Volle and Lučić sharing the role of Scarpia. The April and May performances will be conducted by Bertrand de Billy.

To refresh your memory:

Kristine Opolais -> Sonya Yoncheva (June 16)
Jonas Kaufman -> Vittorio Grigolo (March 8)
Bryn Terfel -> Željko Lučić (December 12)
Andris Nelsons -> James Levine (July 10) -> Emmanuel Villaume/Bertrand de Billy (December 5)