The Wiener Staatsoper has announced an opera change for the opening of the 2022-23 season.

The company said that due to illness, Roberto Alagna and Sonya Yoncheva have canceled their participation in the revival of “La Juive.”

According to a press release, Yoncheva is suffering from an otisis and according to doctor’s advice can’t travel nor sing until at least August 30. Her team said, ” with the premiere of ‘La Juive’ scheduled for September 5, there was no other way than to cancel the production.”

As a result, the company has been forced to make a change in the schedule for the first days of the new season.

Instead of “La Juive,” “La bohème” and an additional performance of “Carmen” will be performed.

State Opera Director Bogdan Roščić said, “‘La Juive’ is a particularly important production in the repertoire of the State Opera, but also a particularly demanding and rarely performed work. It was therefore impossible to make such a far-reaching reshuffle immediately before rehearsals began. We are all the more grateful to the artists now performing for their flexibility and willingness to make this change to the program possible, despite many scheduling conflicts.”

For “La bohème,” the role of Mimì will be sung by Anna Netrebko on Sept. 5, 11, and 18, and by Eleonora Buratto on Sept. 8. Vittorio Grigolo will sing Rodolfo except on Sept. 18. Günther Groissböck, who was cast as Cardinal Brogni in “La Juive,” will sing Colline and George Petean will portray Marcello. Meanwhile, Nina Minasyan will sing Musetta and Bertrand de Billy, who was scheduled to conduct “La Juive’s” revival will lead Puccini’s masterpiece.

On Sept. 14, an additional performance of “Carmen” will be performed instead of “La Juive,” making extra tickets available for the completely sold-out series. Elīna Garanča will be in the title role alongside Piotr Beczała, Erwin Schrott, and Slávka Zámečníková.  Yves Abel will conduct.

Tickets already purchased for the performances on Sept. 5, 8, 11, 14, and 18 remain valid, but can also be returned due to the performance changes.

“La bohème” will mark Netrebko’s return to the Vienna stage earlier than expected. This season at the Staatsoper she will also perform a production of “Aida” alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Garanča.

Yoncheva is set to return to the stage on Sept. 16 for a concert at the Bayerische Staatsoper. She will then make her role debut as “Fedora” at the Teatro alla Scala with Roberto Alagna. She returns to Vienna in June 2023 for her role debut as “Madama Butterfly.”

Alagna returns to the stage for “Fedora” at La Scala and for “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera.