The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its final performance of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.”

The company said, “for tonight’s performance of Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto,’ the role of Sparafucile will now be sung by Julian Close.” He will replace John Relyea.

Close made his Met debut as the Theater Manager / Banker in “Lulu” in 2015. This season he has covered roles in productions of  “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” and “Don Carlo.” He is set to return to both the Scottish Opera as Simone/Talpa in “Il Trittico” and the Longborough Opera Festival for the company’s long-awaited “Götterdämmerung.”

Close joins a cast that includes Luca Salsi, Lisette Oropesa Stephen Costello, and Aigul Akhmetshina. Speranza Scappucci conducts.