Martin Ganter Set for Metropolitan Opera's DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NURNBERG, 12/17

Martin Gantner will sing the role of Beckmesser in Wednesday evening's performance of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, replacing Johannes Martin Kränzle, who is ill. Ryan McKinny will sing the role of Kothner, which Gantner was originally scheduled to sing.

German baritone Martin Gantner made his Met debut earlier this month as Kothner. He sang Beckmesser with Zurich Opera in 2012 and 2013. His other performances this season include Don Pizarro in Beethoven's Fidelio, the Music Master in Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, and Telramund in Wagner's Lohengrin, all at Zurich Opera; and both the Speaker in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and the Music Master in Ariadne auf Naxos at Opéra de Paris.

American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny made his Met debut in 2012 as Mr. Ratcliffe in Britten's Billy Budd. His other performances with the company include Theseus in last season's performances of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and, earlier this year, the Speaker in Die Zauberflöte.

Wednesday's performance of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, conducted by James Levine, will also star Annette Dasch as Eva, Karen Cargill as Magdalene, Johan Botha as Walther von Stolzing, Paul Appleby as David, James Morris as Hans Sachs, Hans-Peter König as Pogner, and Matthew Rose as Nightwatchman.