Bass John Relyea is set to make his Houston Grand Opera debut as Mephistopheles in Gounod’s “Faust” this October.

He will take over for bass-baritone Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, who has withdrawn because of a family emergency.

Relyea will sing the role in all five performances, which run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 15 at the Wortham Theater Center. He has performed the role at the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Ballet and Opera, the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera.

Relyea joins a cast led by tenor Matthew Polenzani in his role debut as Faust and soprano Pretty Yende in her company and role debuts as Marguerite. Baritone Sean Michael Plumb returns to the company as Valentin, and mezzo soprano Sun-Ly Pierce, an alumna of the Butler Studio, sings Siebel.

Giacomo Sagripanti, music director of the Tbilisi Opera House, conducts the HGO Orchestra and Chorus. Peter Relton revives David McVicar’s production.