(Credit: Julian Hargreaves)

The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden has announced that soprano Sonya Yoncheva has withdrawn from the Jan. 10, 2020 performance of “La Bohème” due to illness.

In her stead, the company will showcase soprano Simona Mihai, who sang the role of Mimì back in 2017-18. Mihai is set to take on Musetta later in the run this season.

Mihai was a Jette Parker Young Artist with the company between 2008-10 and would take on roles in “Manon” and “Dido and Aeneas” during her time in the Programme. After that, she appeared with the company in a wide range of roles including Frasquita in “Carmen,” Pousette in “Manon,” Nedda in “Pagliacci,” and the two roles of “La Bohème.” She has also performed with such companies as La Monnaie, The Grange Festival, the Bayerische Staatsoper, and Israeli Opera, among others.

She will join a cast that includes Charles Castronovo, Aida Garifullina, and Gyula Nagi, among others. Emmanuel Villaume conducts.

Yoncheva is expected to return for the subsequent performance on Jan. 14, 2020.