(Courtesy of Hilbert Artist Management)

Markus Werba is set to replace Mariusz Kwiecień  in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The company announced that after Kwiecień was forced to cancel the new production for personal reasons, Werba will take on the baritone role.

Werba is a recognized baritone who made his Royal Opera debut in 2008 as Harlequin in R. Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” and has since sung Mercurio in Cavalli’s “La Calisto,”  Marcello in “La Bohème,”  and Papageno “Die Zauberflöte.”

The baritone, who hails from Kärnten, is set to join a cast that includes Evelino Pidò conducting, Bryn Terfel in the title role, Olga Peretyatko as Norina, and Ioan Hotea as Ernesto. Damiano Michieletto directs the new production, which is a co-production with the Opéra National de Paris and Teatro Massimo, Palermo.

The production is set to open on Oct. 14 and runs through Nov. 2, 2019. The Oct. 24 performance will be presented live in cinemas.