Sydney Symphony Orchestra Announces Stuart Skelton to Replace Anne Sofie von Otter in Select Performances

Australia's greatest living tenor, Stuart Skelton, will travel to Sydney to perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) this week after the untimely passing of mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie Von Otter's husband, Benny Fredriksson, in Sydney at the weekend. Ms von Otter has withdrawn from her SSO appearances scheduled for 22, 23 and 24 March, 2018 and returned to Sweden.

Mr Fredriksson, age 58, was accompanying his wife and members of their family on her international tour, which included performances in New Zealand, Australia, and at the 2018 Adelaide Festival.

SSO Chief Executive Officer Emma Dunch said: "The entire Sydney Symphony Orchestra family extends its heartfelt condolences to Anne Sofie and her family at this terribly sad time. There are no words to express the shock of this news. We will use music, our universal language, to convey our support, and we will dedicate our performances this week to Anne Sofie, Benny and their family."

"We are very grateful to Stuart Skelton, who has gone to considerable lengths to join us in concert on very short notice," she added. "He and Maestro Donald Runnicles have a relationship that spans over 20 years, back to the time that Stuart was a young artist in the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program and Donald was Music Director there. They have devised a tribute program of Lieder songs with Maestro Runnicles accompanying Mr Skelton on piano that will be truly fitting and memorable as a first half to our previously scheduled Mahler Symphony No. 10."

All previously issued tickets for these performances remain valid on the same date/s. Patrons may also exchange into another performance during the 2018 season with no exchange fee, accrue a ticket credit to be used towards a future 2018 concert ticket, and/or request a refund.

For further information, ticket-holders should contact the SSO box office on 02 8215 4600 or visit sydneysymphony.com