The Staatsoper Hamburg has announced a cast change for its production of Messian’s “Saint François d’Assise.”

The company announced that Jacques Imbrailo will replace Johannes Martin Kränze in the title role.

Imbrailo is a well-known South African baritone who is well known for his interpretation in the title role of “Billy Budd.” He has performed at many of the world’s great opera houses, including the Glyndebourne Festival, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro Real Madrid, Dutch National Opera, Norway Opera, the BBC Proms, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

For Messiaen’s piece, he joins a cast that includes Anna Prohaska, Anthony Gregory, Kartal Karagedik, and Dovlet Nurgeldiyev. Kent Nagano conducts.

“Saint François d’Assise” opens June 2 and runs through June 9, 2024.