The San Diego Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Rigoletto.”

The company said that Craig Colclough has had to withdraw from the role of Monterone as he is going to be a part of “Lincoln in the Bardo” at the Metropolitan Opera.

As a result, Joel Balzun will be stepping in to perform the role of Monterone.

Balzun is a recent award-winner in the Wagner Society of New York Singers Competition and the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize. He has performed with the Fort Collins Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Pacific Opera Project, Maryland Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, and Opera Las Vegas.

He will join a cast that includes Michael Chioldi, Madison Leonard, Jose Simerilla Romero, Peixin Chen, and Guadalupe Paz. Yves Abel will conduct the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and Christopher Mattaliano will direct the production.

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