The curse has struck again on the opera whose name superstitious Italians never utter. Even though it remains the highlight of the international season, Verdi’s La forza del destino, which opens La Scala in Milan on December 7, 2024, has just lost one of its headliners. Jonas Kaufmann, the celebrated tenor, has announced that family reasons prevent him from attending rehearsals, forcing him to withdraw from the production.

He stated: “I have had the privilege of taking part several times in my career in this outstanding moment of Italian culture. I am all the more sorry to have to disappoint the public and my colleagues this time. However, I hope for their understanding, especially in a country where family still has great importance”. As he previously did in London for Berlioz’s Les Troyens, Brian Jagde will replace Jonas Kaufmann in the role of Alvaro, joining an exceptionally prestigious cast. The production, directed by Leo Muscato and conducted by Maestro Riccardo Chailly, features Anna Netrebko and Ludovic Tézier, among others.

All the shows in Teatro alla Scala