There has been a major cast upheaval for the Opéra Royal de Wallonie. 

Per the original season announcement, the production was set to feature Serena Farnocchia, Nino Surguladze, Marianne Cornetti, Lionel Lhote, and Gianluca Terranova with Speranza Scappucci in the podium. Lhote, Surguladze, Cornetti, and Scappucci remain scheduled, but there has been a plethora of changes across the board. 

The title role will now be performed by Elaine Alvarez, who will split performances with Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi. This is Alvarez’s debut in the role and her third leading Verdi opera with the theater. 

As Radamès, audiences will see tenors Marcello Giordani and Arnold Rawls. Gianluca Terranova was still scheduled as the first cast tenor a few weeks back, but Giordani has now taken over his position in the production. 

This will be Scappucci’s first time conducting the famed Verdi score. The new production will be directed by Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera.