(Credit: operanewz.blogspot.com)

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced that Russian soprano Evgenia Muraveva will not perform the role of the Foreign Princess for performances of Dvořák’s “Rusalka” on July 18 and 20, 2021.

As a result, Nadia Krasteva will take over the role. Krasteva will join a cast that includes Boris Prýgl, Alyona Abramowa, Daria Proszek, Mirjam Mesak, Yajie Zhang, Ulrich Reß, Helena Zubanovich, Günther Groissböck, Dmytro Popov as The Prince, and Kristine Opolais in the title role. Robert Jindra conducts a production by Martin Kušej.

Krasteva originated the Kušej production back in 2010 alongside Opolais and Groissböck.

No immediate reason was provided for the cancellation. However, current arrivals from the Russian Federation to Germany have been banned except for German nationals and residents due to the explosive spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus in Russia. Germany’s Robert Koch Institute designated the Russian Federation as a virus variant area on June 25, 2021, which prompted the German federal government to allow entry only to German residents who must undergo a 14 day quarantine without exceptions.

Muraveva is scheduled to return to the stage for a performance of Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” at the Enescu Festival on Sept. 20, 2021.