Festival Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Carmen.”

The California-based Company revealed that Nikola Printz will be stepping into the title role of the Bizet opera, taking over for Taylor Raven, who withdrew due to illness.

“On behalf of the company, we wish Taylor a speedy recovery and look for new opportunities to present her in the future,” said Festival Opera General Director Zachary Gordin in an official press statement issued by the company. “Today I also wish to announce – and am truly grateful – that an artist as fantastic as Nikola Printz is willing to step in last minute as our Carmen. Nikola’s voice and stage presence will be an ideal fit in our updated setting of this legendary opera. I believe audiences will be gobsmacked by the display of talent on our stage.”

Printz, a participant of the Merola Program and a current Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera, has performed with such companies as Opera San José, Opera Memphis, Green Mountain Opera Festival, Shreveport Opera, and Pocket Opera, among others. They join a cast starring Dane Suarez, Hope Briggs, and Young Kwang Yoo. Robert Mollicone conducts and Michael Mohammed directs.

“Carmen” opens on August 18, 2023 at the Hofmann Theatre at Lesher Center for the Arts.