The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Don Giovanni” on April 14, 16, 19, 2024.

The company said that Bogdan Volkov will sing the role of Don Ottavio replacing Edgardo Rocha.

In a statement, Rocha said, “Hello everyone greetings from Vienna, as you can hear my voice sounds like Commendatore and not like Ottavio. It means bad news. I’m fighting a virus, it started on Sunday with fever, headache, stomachache… everything. And yesterday together with the Theatre we made the decision to cancel the whole production of ‘Don Giovanni,’ here in Vienna. I think and we think that is the most intelligent thing to do because it’s my debuting role and I will not be in a good shape for Sunday so I prefer to cancel. Bad things happens and we have to learn to accept it. I´m sad, because it’s the second production that I have to cancel here in Vienna, first ‘Cenerentola,’ and now ‘Don Giovanni.’ I hope to see you again in the new season I will be here for 3 or 4 roles I don’t remember I cannot say yet which roles I will be singing, because the new season is coming out on 28th of April. Thank you for your support and I hope to see you again next time.”

Volkov is a tenor who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House, Salzburg Festival, Wiener Staatsoper, and Bayerische Staatsoper.

He is set to join a cast that includes Andrzej Filończyk, Antonio Di Matteo, Slávka Zámečníková, Nicole Car, Christopher Maltman, Isabel Signoret, and Jusung Gabriel Park. Bertrand de Billy conducts the production by Barrie Kosky.