Tobias Kehrer to Make Met Debut, Replacing Franz-Josef Selig in Mozart's DIE ZAUBERFLöTE; Production Opens 10/6

German bass Tobias Kehrer will make his Met debut this season as Sarastro in six performances of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. The performances-on October 21, 25 matinee, 27, 31, November 3, 8 matinee-will be Kehrer's American debut. He replaces Franz-Josef Selig, who has withdrawn for health reasons.

Kehrer has sung Sarastro at Deutsche Oper Berlin, where his roles in recent seasons have also included Colline in Puccini'sLa Bohème, Zuniga in Bizet's Carmen, Titurel in Wagner's Parsifal, Sparafucile in Verdi's Rigoletto, and Narbal in Berlioz's Les Troyens. He also sings regularly at the Salzburg Festival, where his roles have included the Police Commissioner in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, the Nightwatchman in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Truffaldino in Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, and the Vicar Inquisitor in Braunfels's Jeanne d'Arc. Last month, he sang the Second Soldier in Strauss's Salome at the BBC Proms.

Die Zauberflöte opens October 6, with Adam Fischer conducting a cast that also includes Pretty Yende and Miah Persson as Pamina, Ana Durlovski (Met debut) and Kathryn Lewek as Queen of the Night, Toby Spence as Tamino, Markus Werba as Papageno, and Ryan McKinny as the Speaker. As previously announced, René Pape will sing Sarastro in the first three performances of the season: October 6, 11, and 16.

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