(Credit: Rebecca Fay)

The Donizetti Opera Festival has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Marino Faliero.”

The new production will star Michele Angelini in the role of Fernando replacing Javier Camarena, who is ill.

The change comes as the region of Lombardy was declared as a red zone due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Italy.

Angelini is a rising star tenor who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Lithuanian Opera, Berlin State Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Royal Opera House, and Bayerische Staatsoper. He is well known for his interpretations of  operas by Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini.

The tenor will join a cast that includes Francesca Dotto and Michele Pertusi. Riccardo Frizza conducts the new production by Stefano Ricci.

The production is expected to open virtually on Nov. 20 with more details to come.