Just in: Bayreuth’s Venus is injured in rehearsal

Just in: Bayreuth’s Venus is injured in rehearsal

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norman lebrecht

July 12, 2019

The Festival has tweeted that the mezzo Ekaterina Gubanova was injured in a stage rehearsal and will miss the opening night of Tannhäuser.

 

Her replacement is Elena Zhidkova who first sang at Bayreuth in 2001.

The conductor is Valery Gergiev, making his Bayreuth debut.

This is the festival’s second major substitution in as many days.

 

Gubanova adds:  ‘My dear friends, with a great sadness I have to announce that I have seriously injured my knee during the rehearsals this Wednesday. Misplaced the meniscus and torn a ligament. Yesterday I was operated in Augsburg by one of the best surgeons in Germany. I will recover fully in about 6 to 8 weeks, which is unfortunately not fast enough to be able to perform Venus in this year’s new production of Tannhäuser at Bayreuther Festspiele. I was so looking forward!! ‘

Comments

  • Brettermeier says:

    Questions, anyone, why pregnant singers shouldn’t be on stage?

  • John Sorel says:

    Wishing both Gubanova and her dep the very best.

  • Bill says:

    Elena Zhidkova ? They must be joking !!

  • frank says:

    Would someone explain why Bayreuth has cast a black drag queen/sex change in Tannhauser? What role will he/she be singing?

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