Anna Netrebko has decided "after careful consideration, she will not be adding the role of Countess Almaviva to her repertoire." That's what she's told the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, who were hoping to snag her world debut in the role at next year's Whitsun Festival.
It sounds a sensible move - the former Susanna probably never dreamed her voice would grow and darken the way it has when she signed up for the part.
But with Baden-Baden unwilling to lose their audience-magnet, it's the opera that's changing, not the star. Don Giovanni is now scheduled instead. Director Philipp Himmelmann, conductor Thomas Hengelbrock and the Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble remain on board.
