(Credit: © Decca / Simon Fowler)

The Russian Embassy in London has canceled the concert with Russian soprano Aida Garifullina and British pianist Simon Lepper scheduled for Jan. 27, 2020.

The Embassy released a statement noting, “We had been preparing for this event for a long time and so it saddens us to a great extent to cancel it at this time. The reason for the cancellation of the event is the illness of Ms Garifullina that does not allow her to sing at the concert tomorrow. However, we shall be organizing this event in May. And we hope that you will grace the occasion with your presence whenever it is held.”

Garifullina is currently operforming in “La Bohème” at the Royal Opera House where she is singing the role of Musetta. She is also scheduled to sing at the Bolshoi Theatre and and Bayerische Staatsoper.