The Teatro Regio di Parma has announced a cast change in its production of Verdi’s “La forza del destino,” which will inaugurate the XXII Festival Verdi.

The festival noted that Liudmyla Monastyrska will make her debut at the Teatro Regio di Parma e al Festival Verdi in the role of Leonora replacing previously announced Anna Pirozzi.

Pirozzi has been forced to cancel due to previous commitments that were rescheduled due to the pandemic and which will interfere with the rehearsal period.

In a statement, Pirozzi noted, “I am very sorry not to be part of this production and I am glad there will be a new occasion to work with Maestro Roberto Abbado and Maestro Yannis Kokkos. I will miss the Parma audience and I will be happy to sing in a special concert that will be announced.

Monastyrska is set to sing “Turandot” at the Metropolitan Opera and has performed at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro di San Carlo, Arena di Verona, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Bayerische Staatsoper, and Staatsoper Berlin, among others.

The soprano joins a cast that includes Gregory Kunde (Don Alvaro), Amartuvshin Enkhbat (Don Carlo di Vargas), Marko Mimica (Padre guardiano), Roberto de Candia (Fra’ Melitone), and Annalisa Stroppa (Preziosilla). “La forza del destino” will be performed from Sept.22 through Oct. 16, 2022.