(Credit: Mara Zampieri official website)

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that soprano Mara Zampieri has canceled her appearances as Lucia in the run of Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana.”

Per an official statement on the company’s website, the soprano, who belongs to the COVID-19 risk group, does not want to take the chances in traveling to Vienna and participating in the rehearsals and performances at the moment.

Zoryana Kushpler will perform in her stead. Kushpler will join a cast that includes Eva-Maria Westbroek in the role of Santuzza, Brian Jagde as Turiddu, Ambrogio Maestri in the role of Alfio, and Isabel Signoret as Lola. Marco Armiliato will conduct the production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.

The run of the double bill “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” at the Wiener Staatsoper begins on Oct. 30, 2020, and is set to run until Nov. 12, 2020.