The Donizetti Opera Festival has announced cast changes to its upcoming production of “Le Nozze in Villa” and “Marino Faliero” due to travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

The festival announced that Michele Pertusi will sing the title role of “Marino Faliero” replacing Alex Esposito, while tenor Giorgio Misseri will take over the role of Claudio in “Le Nozze in Villa” replacing Edgardo Rocha.

Pertusi is a well-known bass who has performed all over the world at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Real, Wiener Staatsoper, and the Teatro alla Scala. He appears regularly at the Rossini Opera Festival and is well known for his interpretations in the Bel Canto repertoire.

Meanwhile, Misseri is a rising star who has performed with the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Teatro la Fenice, and Teatro Regio di Torino, among others.

The Donizetti Opera Festival is set to open on Nov. 19 and run through Dec. 8, 2020. The festival will announce complete details in the coming weeks.