Brünnhilde cancels ‘for unforseen health reasons’
mainThe German soprano Evelyn Herlitzius issued this statement last night: ‘I regret very much that due to unforeseen health reasons, I am forced to withdraw from my Ring commitment to San Francisco Opera. I wish the company all success on this important presentation next month.’
Her replacement will be the experienced Irene Theorin.
That’s such a shame. It would have been amazing to see her internationally acclaimed Brunnhilde finally in the US. Hope she recovers quickly and she’ll have her SF Opera debut in the future. Her artistry is amazing!
I hope Ms. Herlitzius has a speedy recovery for whatever her illness is.
I happen to like her very much. She is an intense singer with a powerful voice and a riveting stage presence.
The San Francisco Opera is lucky to have secured Irene Theorin. She is also a wonderful singer. The two of them, to me at least, are the two leading Brunnhildes of today.
(No, I don’t think Christine Goerke is at all. She is no Wagnerian soprano.)
We don’t get Theorin or Herlitzius here at the Met next season for the Ring.
The Met has stuck us with the seriously miscast Goerke, as well as Westbroek as Sieglinde.
Yet again, the San Francisco Opera has trumped the Met in casting……
All the while since Brünhilde was put to sleep on an unhealthy rock surrounded by fire, had her nuptuals in a cave and had to endure pulverizing humiliations at the Gibichungen, and especially since her leap onto Siegfried’s cremation pyre, her health has been unstable now and then.
Given the filth into which San Francisco’s streets are sinking ever more (including used needles and human feces), Ms. Herlitzius would have taken serious additional risks to her health had she decided to follow through with her engagement at SF Opera. I hope the reason for her withdrawal is not a serious one. For Ms. Theorin and her colleagues I wish lots of success, and, more importantly, health and safety in what was once a lovely place to be (and sing).