Maija Kovalevska, who is already slated to sing the role of the consumptive heroine throughout most of December, will replace Ms. Netrebko for the later performances. Ram‹n Vargas and Massimo Giordani share the role of her poet-lover, with Mariusz Kwiecien as Marcello.
As previously announced, Netrebko will return in time to sing the title role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at the Met, beginning January 26, 2009 and continuing on January 29, February 3 and February 7 matinee.
The February 7 performance will be transmitted live into movie theaters worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD series, as well as being broadcast live over the Toll Brothers Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and on the Met's Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 78.
For further information, visit metopera.org.