Elza van den Heever will not perform the final “Norma” at the Dallas Opera. In her stead soprano Aviva Fortunata will take on the lead role for the performance on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

Fortunata performed the role of the priestess this past fall at the Canadian Opera Company.

The Calgary native was a finalist in the 2016 Operalia Competition and was also a finalist in the Song Prize at the 2015 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. She is also a graduate of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio and has performed such operas as “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Così fan tutte,” “Falstaff,” “Peter Grimes,” and “Maometto II” with the company. She is also a graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program.

The star-studded cast of “Norma” this season has featured Marina Costa-Jackson as Adalgisa, tenor Yonghoon Lee as Pollione, and bass Christian Van Horn as Oroveso. Emmanuel Villaume has conducted the run.