The New Orleans Opera has announced a cast change for its production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.”

The company said that “tenor Bryan Hymel has regretfully withdrawn from the production” and in his stead, “NOOA is excited to present tenor Jonathan Kaufman in the role of Lt. Pinkerton in his New Orleans Opera debut.”

Kaufman is an accomplished vocalist who has received great acclaim for his portrayals in “La Bohème,” “Macbeth,” and “Madama Butterfly.” This season Kaufman will make returns to Opera Carolina for its production of “Tosca,” covering Cavaradossi, and Winter Opera St. Louis as Macduff in “Macbeth.” He also makes several débuts including Rodolfo in “La Bohème” with Opera Western Reserve, as a soloist with Western Piedmont Symphony in their Foothills Pops! holiday concert, and will return to Aiken Symphony Orchestra for their Home for the Holidays concert.

“Madama Butterfly” will be performed on March 24 and 26, 2023.