Anna Netrebko is pulling out of both her sold-out La traviata dates at the Royal Opera House (17 and 20 January) due to 'an urgent operation on her foot'. Bunions? Verruca? The imagination wanders. Anna said a few months ago that she was moving on with her repertoire and withdrawing Violetta, so it could be that we've heard the last of her tubercular coughs.
Ermonela Jaho is likely to replace her, though Covent Garden haven't announced anything yet.
This follows high-profile cancellations over the holiday season at Dresden ('lack of preparation time') and La Scala (a 'bad cold'). Three German concerts in January with Erwin Schrott have also been cancelled and rescheduled for later in the year.
Anna expects to return to the stage later in January once she has fully recovered from the operation.
Erwin Schrott's Covent Garden Don Giovanni is unlikely to be affected, since he doesn't take over the role from Gerald Finley until 16 February.
**********************
*UPDATE* 5.1.12 - After six days combing the globe for a replacement, Covent Garden have finally announced that they have 'managed to secure' Ermonela Jaho for the two dates.
