Injured tenor bows out of Lyric's 'Otello'
A previous back injury has prompted South African tenor Johan Botha to pull out of the remaining two performances of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's revival of Verdi's "Otello."
"(Botha) has been suffering with this for the past several weeks, but the pain has now reached a point that he feels he can no longer perform at the level he demands of himself, or that his audiences deserve," said Botha's manager Michael Lewin in a statement.
American tenor Clifton Forbis, who previously performed at the Lyric in 2009 as Tristan in "Tristan & Isolde," will replace Botha for the performances set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 2. For information, visit lyricopera.org.
American tenor Clifton Forbis, pictured with Wheeling native Deborah Voigt in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s “Tristan & Isolde,” will replace South African tenor Johan Botha for the final two performances of Verdi’s “Otello.”
Courtesy of Lyric Opera of Chicago
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