Alagna To Replace Villazon at the Met
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Roberto Alagna is replacing tenor Rolando Villazon in the first two performances of the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” next month.
“Mr. Villazon has canceled his engagements for the next two to three months as his doctor had suggested,” the singer’s manager, Bruce Zemsky, said yesterday. “He has been advised to have this rest after a very heavy schedule over the last two seasons and looks forward to returning as soon as possible.”
Mr. Alagna will sing in the September 25 and September 29 performances opposite soprano Anna Netrebko. She canceled concerts in Austria and Italy this month because of laryngitis.
Matthew Polenzani will sing December 27 and December 31. The Met didn’t announce a replacement for the October 3, 6, or 11 performances.
Mr. Villazon remains scheduled for the December 15 matinee, to be broadcast on the radio, simulcast in movie theaters, and recorded for television. He also is slated to sing December 8, 12, and 20.
