Renowned soprano Anna Netrebko has made the difficult decision to withdraw from her planned role debut in Richard Strauss' “Ariadne auf Naxos” at the Vienna State Opera. This unexpected change has led to rising star Lise Davidsen stepping in to take on the challenging role.
In a statement released on Monday, Netrebko cited ill health as the reason for her withdrawal, explaining that the compromised preparation time before rehearsals made it impossible for her to meet her own high standards. Despite her disappointment at not being able to interpret this new role, she expressed hope for a future opportunity to perform it in Vienna.
Netrebko had recently captivated audiences at Milan's Teatro alla Scala with her performances as Leonora in Verdi's “La Forza del Destino” from December 7 to 22, marking a successful start to the season.
Lise Davidsen, who made her Ariadne role debut at England's Glyndebourne Festival in 2017, will now take over from Netrebko for four performances scheduled from January 21 to 31. Davidsen will be joined by a talented cast including Michael Spyres, Kate Lindsey, and Sara Blanch, under the baton of conductor Cornelius Meister.
Netrebko's next scheduled performance is a recital in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 3, 2025, marking her first U.S. appearance since 2019.
The Vienna State Opera director, Bogdan Rošcic, is collaborating with Netrebko to reschedule her performance of “Ariadne auf Naxos” at the earliest opportunity.
