(Credits: LA Opera official website / Peter Knutson)

The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the cancelation of its run of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” between March 20 & 26, and the presentations of Verdi’s “Les Vêpres siciliennes” on April 5, 10 & 13, 2021.

The opera house stated that the performances could not be presented due to the worsening of the epidemiological situation.

“Lucia di Lammermoor” was supposed to showcase Adela Zaharia, Boris Pinkhasovich, Pavol Breslik, Galeano Salas, Corinna Scheurle, Evgeny Stavinsky, and Dean Power. Antonino Fogliani was signed on to conduct the production by Barbara Wysocka.

“Les Vêpres siciliennes” was supposed to star Malin Byström, George Petean, Erwin Schrott, John Osborn, Andrew Hamilton, Christian Valle, Helena Zubanovich, Manuel Günther, George Vîrban, Callum Thorpe, and Caspar Singh. Omer Meir Wellber was set to conduct the production by Antú Romero Nunes.

Germany is undergoing an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Top German epidemiologists warned that the country could see a massive third wave of the disease, driven by the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. The 7-day incidence in Germany rose to 100 on March 20, 2021, thus hitting the emergency brakes set by the German federal government. Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Ministers of German federal states will meet on March 22 to discuss the current epidemiological situation in the country.