Canadian Opera Replaces David Lomelí with Dimitri Pittas and Michael Fabiano in LA BOHEME

The Canadian Opera Company regrets to announce that Mexican tenor David Lomelí, who was scheduled to perform the role of Rodolfo in the upcoming production of Puccini's La Bohème, has had to withdraw for health reasons. Lomelí was scheduled to sing eight of the production's 12 performances. In his place, the COC has cast two of the most exciting young tenors in the opera world today: Dimitri Pittas (October 3, 6, 9, 12) and Michael Fabiano (October 16, 19, 27, 30). They share the role of Rodolfo with the previously announced Italian-American tenor Eric Margiore (October 18, 22, 25, 29).

American tenor Dimitri Pittas has been called a "rising young singer of unaffected charm" by the New York Observer and compared in look and sound to a young Plácido Domingo. He made his COC debut in 2011 as the Duke inRigoletto, and is scheduled to appear with the company this winter in a role debut performance as Riccardo, starring opposite Canada's great diva soprano Adrianne Pieczonka in Un ballo in maschera. Pittas has appeared on leading opera stages throughout North America and Europe, including debuts with the Bavarian State Opera, the Vienna State Opera and Royal Opera House Covent Garden. In addition to singing Rodolfo with the Metropolitan Opera, he has appeared on the Met stage as Macduff in Macbeth, Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore and Tamino in The Magic Flute. Pittas most recently appeared with Opera Frankfurt, Houston Grand Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago as Rodolfo and made his role debut in the title role of Don Carlo at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse, France.

American tenor Michael Fabiano has received glowing praise from the New York Times for "his soaring, thrilling singing", most recently for a concert at New York's Avery Fisher Hall and a "superlative performance [that] elicited unbridled responses from the audience." It's a sentiment shared by the Wall Street Journal, which said after Fabiano's 2011 appearance with English National Opera that his performance showed "why he is in such demand in the big opera houses." In recent years, in addition to ENO, Fabiano has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, San Francisco Opera, La Scala and Dresden Semperoper as well as in concert performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Oslo Symphony. He makes his COC debut as Rodolfo.

The COC's production of La Bohème runs October 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25, 27, 29 and 30, 2013 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Visit coc.ca for complete cast information.

Tickets are available online at coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Ticket prices for La Bohème range from $12 - $365(includes applicable taxes). Patrons between the ages of 16 and 29 may purchase $22 Opera Under 30 tickets as of September 21 at 10 a.m., online at coc.ca, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office.

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The COC enjoys a loyal audience support-base and one of the highest attendance and subscription rates in North America. Under its leadership team of General Director Alexander Neef and Music Director Johannes Debus, the COC is increasingly capturing the opera world's attention. The COC maintains its international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation by creating new productions within its diverse repertoire, collaborating with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracting the world's foremost Canadian and international artists. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the Four Seasons Centre opened in 2006, and is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada. For more information on the COC, visit its award-winning website, coc.ca.