Cabell to replace Schwanewilms in Lyric's 'Figaro'

German soprano Anne Schwanewilms has withdrawn from all remaining performances as the Countess Almaviva in the Lyric Opera of Chicago's revival of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." Schwanewilms is suffering a bronchial infection and has returned home upon her doctor's advice.

American soprano Amanda Majeski (a current member of the Lyric's Ryan Opera Center program for young artists) filled in for Schwanewilms Tuesday and is scheduled to perform on Friday, March 12.

Award-winning American soprano and Ryan Center alumna Nicole Cabell will then portray the Countess for the remaining six Lyric performances of "Figaro." Currently portraying Musetta in "La Boheme" for the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Cabell was released from her contract to appear in Chicago. She most recently appeared at the Lyric this season in "The Elixir of Love."