(Credit: Ludoviz Ludha)

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced that Scottish tenor Nicky Spence has withdrawn from the production of Leoš Janáček’s “The Makropulos Affair” in February 2022.

The tenor took to Twitter saying “So sad not to make my debut @StaatsoperBLN as planned… I fell down the stairs at the airport en route & am now stuck in hospital awaiting surgery on both my legs!”

As a result, tenor Ľudovít Ludha takes over the role of Albert Gregor. Ludha joins a cast that includes Marlis Petersen, Peter Hoare, Natalia Skrycka, Bo Skovhus, Spencer Britten, Jan Martiník, Žilvinas Miškinis, Adriane Queiroz, Graham Clark, and Anna Kissjudit. Sir Simon Rattle conducts a production by Claus Guth, with set design by Étienne Pluss.

Ľudovít Ludha has been a soloist of the Opera of the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. He has appeared at the Opéra Bastille in Paris, Teatro Real in Madrid, Royal Danish Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and National Theatre Opera in Prague, among many others.

Nicky Spence is scheduled to return to the stage in the title role in Saint-Saëns’ “Samson et Dalila” alongside Elīna Garanča at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in May and June 2022.

OperaWire sends its best to Nicky Spence.