Jonas Kaufmann (left) and Kristine Opolais will not reunite in the Met's new Manon Lescaut.
Here they sing the roles of Manon and Des Grieux in Munich in 2014.
Photo © 2014 Wilfried Hönl.
This afternoon, the Metropolitan Opera press department released the news that Mr. Kaufmann was cancelling his appearance in the company’s new production of the seminal Puccini opera. His substitute: tenor Roberto Alagna. Mr. Alagna will be singing the role of Des Grieux for the first time onstage. The production stars Kristine Opolais in the title role. Directed by Richard Eyre, it is a collaboration between the Met and the Baden Baden Festival, where it premiered in 2014.
In order to learn the role of Des Grieux, Mr. Alagna will withdraw from his commitment to sing the role of Canio in the Met’s ongoing production of Pagliacci. The tenor will be replaced by Met veteran Marco Berti, who is currently singing the role of Calaf in that company’s current run of Turandot.
The news also affects Carnegie Hall. Earlier today, the Carnegie press department heard the announcement during that venue’s annual press conference and luncheon, at which the 2016-17 season was announced. Mr. Kaufmann is withdrawing from his commitment to sing a recital of songs by Mahler, Britten and Richard Strauss in Stern Auditorium on Jan. 31. The source confirmed that both withdrawals are due to illness.
This incident marks the second time in two seasons that Mr. Kaufmann has not appeared at the Met. He withdrew from his commitment to sing Don José in the Met’s Carmen last year. He last appeared at the Met in a new production of Werther, also directed by Mr. Eyre.
