Elina Garanca has canceled her 2013-14 engagement at the Metropolitan Opera.
The Met press office sent out a statement explaining situation: "Elina Garanca has withdrawn from her 2013-14 Met engagements because she is pregnant with her second child, who is due this winter. Garanca was originally scheduled to sing Octavian in three performances of Strauss's 'Der Rosenkavalier' and Charlotte in a new production of Massenet's 'Werther.' Two star mezzo-sopranos will replace her in these performances: Alice Coote in 'Der Rosenkavalier' and Sophie Koch, making her Met debut, in 'Werther.'"
The Met was not the only theater who had to make readjustments. The Royal Opera House also announced that the Mezzo Soprano had to withdraw from its revival of "Carmen." The company stated, "Due to pregnancy, Latvian mezzo-soprano ElÄ«na GaranÄa has withdrawn from the title role in The Royal Opera's production of 'Carmen,' which opens in December 2013. Replacement casting for the role will be announced in due course."
The news came a day after the Garanca's management sent out a statement that confirmed her pregnancy. On Wednesday, Erenesto Palacio confirmed that the Latvian mezzo-soprano would cancel her participation in "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Carmen," but stated that she might not cancel "Werther."
Garanca's pregnancy marks her second. In 2011, she gave birth to her daughter Catherine Louise. During that time she canceled two highly anticipated opening nights. She was scheduled to open the Met's 2011-12 season with Anna Netrebko in "Anna Bolena" and the Teatro alla Scala 2011-12 season in "Don Giovanni" also with Netrebko, Bryn Terfel and Peter Mattei.
The Metropolitan Opera had already suffered one cancellation earlier this week when Deborah Warner announced she would not direct her production of "Eugene Onegin" because she was undergoing surgery. As a result, Fiona Shaw was called in to replace the English director.