René Barbera has canceled his BBC Proms debut due to illness.

The tenor was set to sing Rossini’s Stabat Mater.

In a statement he said, “Unfortunately, I won’t be making my BBC Proms debut this Friday as planned. I’ve been dealing with a stubborn cough over the past several days, and despite treatment it’s taking a little longer than expected to clear up. After speaking with the team, we’ve agreed that the best decision is for me to withdraw from this performance and give myself the time to fully recover. I’m naturally disappointed to miss such a special occasion, but health comes first, and I know this is the right call. Wishing my wonderful colleagues and everyone involved a fantastic performance, and I hope to be back on stage very soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support.”

As a result, Dave Monaco will sing the tenor role and make his BBC Proms debut.

Monaco will join a cast that includes Federica Lombardi, Chiara Amarù, Dave Monaco, and Nicola Ulivieri. Nil Venditti conducts the BBC Symphony.

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