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Articles tagged with: Falk Struckmann

Lyric’s snake-bitten ‘Otello’ loses its star tenor when ailing Botha cancels final 2 performances

Oct 28, 2013 – 11:11 am
Johan Botha as Otello in Verdi's 'Otello' at Lyric Opera of Chicago 10-2013 (Dan Rest)

Report: First, the German bass-baritone Falk Struckmann, singing the role of the evil Iago in Verdi’s “Otello,” lost his voice suddenly to an allergy flare-up during opening night of the Lyric Opera’s 59th season, causing a frantic search for the understudy. Now it’s the Otello’s turn. Johan Botha has dropped out of the production’s remaining performances. The South African heldentenor, plagued by severe back pain, has returned to Vienna for treatment. American heldentenor Clifton Forbis replaces him for performances Oct. 29 and Nov. 2.

Lyric Opera’s storm-tossed ‘Otello’ weathers sudden cast change not even Iago could plot

Oct 8, 2013 – 9:46 pm
Chorus Master Michael Black

Review: Villainous Iago’s creed, which holds that man is the sport of unjust fate, must be on the minds of impresarios everywhere when opening night emergencies befall. So it was at the Lyric Opera’s gala opener Oct. 6, when the Iago of Verdi’s “Otello,” Falk Struckmann, made it only through Act 1. Valiant standby Todd Thomas made the save. The Lyric announced that Struckmann will sing Oct. 9. ★★★