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By Matthew Westphal
12 Sep 2007
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| Nathan Gunn |
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| photo by Dario Acosta |
Due to illness, baritone Nathan Gunn has withdrawn from his appearances as Mercutio in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette at the Metropolitan Opera this month and next. Stéphane Degout, who sang the role when the current production premiered in 2005, will fill in for Gunn at the five performances between September 25 and October 11.
The Met's autumn run of Roméo seems to be star-crossed: Gunn is the second principal to pull out due to illness. Last month tenor Rolando Villazón, struggling with extended health difficulties, canceled all of his engagements at least through October, including his performances as Romeo in this production. (Roberto Alagna and Joseph Kaiser will take the role for the fall run.)
Both Villazón and Gunn remain scheduled for the December run of Roméo et Juliette.
Gunn was also slated to sing at this Sunday's "Tribute to Beverly Sills" at the Metropolitan Opera House. (He was the recipient of the inaugural Beverly Sills Award.) Performing in his place — alongside Natalie Dessay and Anna Netrebko, with James Levine at the piano — will be bass John Relyea.
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