Giuseppe Filianoti replaces Rolando as Nemorino at the LA opera in September

Filianoti to Replace Villazón in Los Angeles Opera

On the heels of the tenor Rolando Villazón’s announcement that he would withdraw from performing until at least the end of the year to undergo surgery on his vocal cords, the Los Angeles Opera said that it had cast Giuseppe Filianoti to replace Mr. Villazón in its season-opening production of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore.” In a news release, the opera said that Mr. Filianoti would sing the role of Nemorino in the production, which is scheduled to run from Sept. 12 through Sept. 30. On Wednesday, Mr. Villazón’s managers said that the tenor needed surgery as soon as possible to remove a cyst from his vocal cords. A coming run of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann,” scheduled to start at the Metropolitan Opera in December, was among the productions affected; the Met has not yet named a replacement for Mr. Villazón.

What's going on ?! Sad news day by day...

Rolando is now only still scheduled for 2 of the originally planned 7 performances of L'elisir d'amore with Nino Machaidze at the LA opera in September !! At the other performances will Giuseppe Filianoti sing the role of Nemorino. If reducing his performances is the right way for him and his voice I will accept it totally...


Thanks to Maxi for the information...

Rolando & Nino = Nemorino & Adina

NEMORINO Rolando Villazón
ADINA Nino Machaidze*
BELCORE Nathan Gunn
DOCTOR DULCAMARA Ruggero Raimondi*
GIANNETTA Valerie Vinzant

* LA Opera debut

CONDUCTOR James Conlon
DIRECTOR Stephen Lawless
DESIGNER Johan Engels
ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGNER Paul Pyant

Operatic comedy at its most appealing opens the 2009/10 Season. Filled with light-hearted charm and bursting with feel-good laughs, The Elixir of Love features engaging characters and such captivating Italian melodies as the poignant "Una furtiva lagrima" ("A furtive tear"). Rolando Villazón stars as the lovesick Nemorino in search of a magic potion to capture the heart of Adina, performed by Nino Machaidze in her U.S. debut. Nathan Gunn takes the part of Belcore in his role debut, and James Conlon conducts.

Saturday September 12, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday September 15, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday September 20, 2009 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday September 22, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Friday September 25, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday September 27, 2009 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 30, 2009 7:30 p.m.

I'm curious about this production, especially how Nino will well how say this in english ?! How she will "interpret" the role of Adina. I don't like her interpretation of Juliette in Salzburg very much, but that's only my personal opinion, so let's see !