07 Oct 2004

Deborah Voigt withdraws from Vancouver Opera’s production of Der Rosenkavalier

*Deborah Voigt withdraws from Vancouver Opera's production of Der Rosenkavalier* Vancouver, BC ~ American soprano Deborah Voigt, who was to make her role début as the Marschallin in the company's première production of Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, has withdrawn from...

*Deborah Voigt withdraws from Vancouver Opera's production of Der Rosenkavalier*

Vancouver, BC ~ American soprano Deborah Voigt, who was to make her role début as the Marschallin in the company's première production of Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, has withdrawn from the production. In informing Vancouver Opera of her decision, Ms.Voigt's personal representative stated that, "Ms. Voigt was stretched too thin and exhausted. Like many people in Florida, her personal life was unsettled by the recent hurricanes and the subsequent interruption to her schedule left her unable to complete her personal preparations [for the role.]"

The production will proceed as scheduled, with four performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre October 16, 19, 21 and 23, 2004.

Replacing Ms. Voigt in the cast will be soprano Carol Wilson. Ms. Wilson is a leading artist with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, in Germany, where she has sung such roles as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Alice Ford in Verdi's Falstaff and Gutrune in Wagner's Götterdämmerung. She has also appeared as Marietta in Korngold's Die Tote Stadt, with Royal Swedish Opera. Her repertoire of Richard Strauss roles includes the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos, the Countess in Capriccio (both for Deutsche Oper am Rhein) and the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier. Ms. Wilson has also enjoyed a distinguished career as a concert soloist, winning particular acclaim for her performances of Barber's Knoxville Summer of 1915 and Strauss's Four Last Songs.

Carol Wilson

Ms. Wilson is currently performing the role of the Marschallin in a production of Der Rosenkavalier at theatre Aachen, in Germany, alternating performances with another soprano. Her most recent performance was on October 6, 2004. She was scheduled to perform in Aachen on October 19, but has arranged with theatre Aachen and her colleague to be released from that obligation.

In making the announcement of Ms. Voigt's withdrawal, Vancouver Opera's General Director, James W. Wright, said, "We are, of course, extremely disappointed. Ms. Voigt is a wonderful artist, and could have made a great contribution to this production. However, I am pleased to say that the ensemble of artists we have engaged for Der Rosenkavalier is extremely strong, and we are delighted to welcome Carol Wilson to join them in bringing this magnificent work to life. In a happy bit of serendipity, it happens that our Music Director Jonathan Darlington, who is conducting the production, has had the pleasure of working with Ms. Wilson previously, including a successful production of Falstaff." Added Wright, "We are very grateful to our colleagues in Aachen for accommodating us."

[Source: Vancouver Opera News Release, dated October 7, 2004]