The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition has announced the withdrawal of Filipe Manu.

The competition said, “we regret to announce that Filipe Manu has had to withdraw from the competition for personal reasons. His place will be taken by Croatian bass, Toni Nežić.”

New Zealand-Tongan tenor Manu is a graduate of the Jette Parker Young Artist program at the Royal Opera House. He has appeared at the Royal Opera House, Hamburg Staatsoper, Glyndebourne Festival, and Opéra National de Paris.

Nežić is an alumnus of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala under the guidance of Luciana D’Intino. He has performed at the Lausitz Festival and Teatro alla Scala.

Nežić joins a roster of 16 singers from all over the world from Canada, China, Colombia, England, Italy, South Korea, Scotland, Sweden, South Africa, Wales, Turkey, and Ukraine.