(Credit: Simon Pauly)

Update: “Following the first announcement of the cast change in the role of Turandot, we have further discussed with Artistic Director Antonio Pappano to find the best possible artistic solution for audiences in this situation. The title role will now be sung by two sopranos, Maida Hundeling (on 23 and 26 June) and Ewa Płonka (29 June and 2 July). We apologise to our valued audience members who have been anticipating the original casting, but appreciate everyone’s kind understanding. We hope you will enjoy the performances.”

The Royal Opera House has announced a cast change for its Japan tour.

The company said, “It is with great regret that Sondra Radvanovsky has had to withdraw from the title role of Turandot on The Royal Opera’s Japan tour due to a severe ear infection and sinusitis. She will be replaced, at the recommendation of Music Director Antonio Pappano, by soprano Maida Hundeling, who is scheduled to sing the same role with The Royal Opera in 2025/2026 season, gaining greater attention.”

Hundeling has performed with the Wernigeröder Schlossfestspiele, the Thüringer Nationaltheater in Eisenach, Houston Grand Opera, Utah Opera, Edmonton Opera, Opéra de Montréal, and at opera houses in Hamburg, Leipzig, Braunschweig, Wiesbaden, Freiburg, Saarbrücken, Dortmund, Bielefeld, Münster, Ljubljana, Vienna, Venice, Bolzano, Modena, Milan, Brno, Ostrava, and Bratislava.

The soprano is set to join a cast that includes Brian Jagde and Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha. Sir Antonio Pappano conducts the opera which is set to be presented between June 23 and July 2.