Dmitri Hvorostovsky Cancels All Opera Engagements for the Foreseeable Future

By Francisco Salazar

Dmitri Hvorostovsky has announced that he will withdraw from all upcoming opera productions.

The Russian baritone said in a statement via Facebook “It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from opera performances for the foreseeable future. I have been experiencing balance issues associated with my illness, making it extremely difficult for me to perform in staged productions.”

However, he will continue to give concerts and recitals. He said, “I will continue to give concerts and recitals as well as make recordings. Singing is my life, and I want to continue bringing joy to people worldwide.With this pause in my operatic career and more rest in between each engagement, I hope to have more time to focus on my health and treatment.”

The baritone was scheduled to sing Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at the Royal Opera House next month. The company stated, “We admire Dmitri’s extraordinary courage and positive spirit in dealing with his illness, and hope that with time his condition will improve to allow him to return to the stage. We know that the entire opera world and his London audiences, in particular, join us in sending him the warmest and most heartfelt good wishes.” No replacements have been announced for Hvorostovsky.

The baritone was also scheduled for a revival of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” at the Metropolitan Opera with Anna Netrebko. The run featured a scheduled performance in the Met’s Live in HD series. Mariusz Kwiecien and Peter Mattei will alternate in the role replacing Hvorostovsky.

Hvorostovsky was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015 and last week announced his withdrawal from the Bolshoi Opera.

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