[UPDATE 3:40pm Milan time, February 14, 2011: Jonas Kaufmann is also reportedly out of tomorrow night's Tosca la prima. He was slated to sing Cavaradossi.]
Word from the smog-heavy streets of downtown Milan is that due to illness, Oksana Dyka has canceled her opening night lead role in Puccini's Tosca at Teatro alla Scala, slated to open tomorrow night, Tuesday, February 15. Stepping in is American soprano Sondra Radvanovsky (who is scheduled to sing the role later in the run on February 27 & March 2, 4 & 6). Upgrade!! Conducting is Omer Meir Wellber, singing Cavaradossi is Jonas Kaufmann (February 15, 17, 20 & 22 -- split with Marco Berti), and singing Scarpia is Zeljko Lucic (February 15, 17, 20 & 22 & March 2, 4, 23 & 25 -- split with Bryn Terfel)
Opening night, less than 36 hours away, will unveil to the Milanese that controversial new production by Luc Bondy (that OC saw in New York City for its 2009 world premiere here) which New Yorkers lost their pewp over (and not in a good way) -- although signs point to the Milanese preparing flasks of Citrosodina (Italy's Alka Seltzer) to help digest Bondy's updated staging.
