(Credit: OWL Artists)

The Royal Opera House has announced a cast change for its upcoming world premiere “Festen.”

The company said that the role of Else will be sung by Rosie Aldridge who replaces Eva-Maria Westbroek. 

Aldridge made her Royal Opera debut in the 2016-17 season as Praskovya Osipovna/Vendor in “The Nose” and has returned as Mrs Sedley in “Peter Grimes,” Margret in “Wozzeck,” and Aksinya in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, among others. She has performed at teh Wiener Staatsoper, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Real, Madrid, and Paris Opera.

“Festen” is based upon the acclaimed film by Thomas Vinterberg and the new stage work sees Anthony-Mark Turnage working with librettist Lee Child. The World Premiere performance will take place on Feb. 11 2025 and will star Allan Clayton, Stéphane Degout, Gerald Finley, Natalya Romaniw, Thomas Oliemans, Sophie Bevan, and Susan Bickley. Edward Gardner conducts the new production by Richard Jones.