I admit I'm over 24 hours late in reporting this, but, you know, being fast with the news doesn't always guarantee substance.
There have been so many rumours and counter-rumours circulating. I knew when his website was completely updated and included last night's Werther, that this was clearly the target. As the date approached and there was no announcement of cancellation, my optimism increased. But I understand that the Vienna Opera website is not always accurate about castings, so I was not prepared to believe anything until it happened.
Mostly Opera has reports, links and analysis (and the first comment is, I think, particularly insightful).
I have tickets to see him - twice - in Don Carlo in June. There are two different rumours circulating that he won't be performing. One emanates from someone reporting Gramophone which reported that Jonas Kaufmann will be in it, which seems to be either a misreading of Gramophone or else an inaccurate combination of the fact that Jonas was listed as a late-ish replacement for tba as Cavaradossi and will be Don Carlo in the next revival. The other is that Ramon Vargas is due to step in. That I doubt, because he is scheduled to sing the (French version of) the role in Vienna in June, and I don't think artists pull out of Vienna in preference to anywhere, plus he doesn't seem to have appeared recently at CG, nor am I aware of future engagements.
Of course, the law of sod being what it is, one of tickets for Don Carlo is the same night Erwin Schrott is performing at a nameless concert hall in RBKC.
I wish Rolando all the very very best for his forthcoming hectic schedule of performances and wish to say a big yaboo sucks to a handful of unpleasant people of the internet who were rubbing their hands with glee saying "He's finished! He should have heeded my warning!" I don't know if I was the first opera blogger to go crazy about Rolando but I certainly did go crazy about him before opera blogging was a recognised thing. And he had better jolly well turn up for Don Carlo because there is a certain German gentleman, not to mention the constant Argentinian, who are vying with him for the prestigious title of "Gert's Favourite Tenor (below pensionable age)". It's still neck and neck, but with Carmen/Tosca/Don Carlo coming up, the title is there for the taking. Possibly...(and there is a certain Peruvian due to round the season off with a concert, but I am afraid he is always destined to be trailing just behind...)
Update: After Mysterious Cancellations, Star Tenor Returns Triumphant
