I wouldn't have said no to Robert Hale as a replacement for Terfel - he was very moving when he stood in at the last minute in Walkure last time round. But I'm a big fan of John Tom too. Is he really going to sing all the Hagens as well as the Wotan/Wanderers? If so, I too am glad I'm going to Cycle 1. I might pop down to William Hill and pop a tenner on Domingo pulling out as well....

Rydl is a super performer and easily up alongside the rest of the cast - I doubt anyone will be disappointed 

Rydl was good in Wozzeck too. I suppose they will have to find another Hagen for the other cycles.

It's not that I don't want to see Tomlinson do Wotan, but I think they are asking a bit much of him, especially if you include the extra "preview" cycle (which I assume he's doing as well).

And while we're on the subject, does anyone genuinely believe the story about a 'problem' with one of BT's children?

As the Guardian acknowledges, the ROH normally takes these things in good spirit; the Terfel announcement, however, sounds genuinely aggrieved.

Sounds to me like something much worse happened and this is being trotted out as a cover story.

S_K,

I've often wondered whether you've a tendency to overindulge in a rather tabloid, or even 'Hello' view of the opera world, with either no recognition of the internal and external pressures that weigh upon the people who dedicate themselves to a demanding, even punishing, régime of high pressure, or a else rather callous willingness to ignore such matters for the sake of prurient sensationalism.

I'd like to remind you of the recent tragedy of Jerry Hadley, and point out that nobody else can know the point at which an individual finds circumstances (for whatever reason) beginning to become unbearable. I've worked alongside very successful performers who have nevertheless had nervous breakdowns (one, distressingly, on stage in the middle of a performance), and even a handful who commited suicide, and I'd like it to be known that I feel that conjectures about the reasons for any artist's problems are at best undignified and surely better kept private rather then bandied about a public forum.

Bests,
Ron

He does seem to have a bit of a reputation as a flouncer, doesn't he, although I suppose we should give him the benefit of the doubt, in case there really is a family problem.

He does keep on saying that he wants to give up singing opera in a few years, doesn't he? http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/eac5f0c6-e88b-11db-b2c3-000b5df10621.html I can see the life is pretty wearing but it must be odd to be so good at something and yet not want to do it.

It depends whose rehearsals they are, I suppose        

I know and have worked with Warner, including some very rough times on punishing tours ("fish'n'chips in a boarding house in Truro, is this what Jonas thinks of us, eh?"), and if there is one thing I learned from him more than any other,  it's that good humour, encouragement and utter faith in your cast (who must go out there and do what he and I cannot) can produce spectacular performances from even the most unlikely of artistes.  I remember one occasion (at ENO) when he went to Opera Planning (the "casting people" at ENO, known throughout the building as "Opera Bungling") and browbeat them until he was allowed to cast a singer they believed to be a "lame duck".  The psychology worked - the singer involved turned-in a phenomenal performance. I have also seen him take-up the cause of performers treated unfairly by the Management. He invariably arrives at rehearsals with packets of biscuits, or a Lemon Gateau of his own devising.  He actively builds-up a "brood" feeling amongst his cast - admittedly sometimes causing ructions with other shows on stage at the same time ("Now you see if you'd been in my show you'd have been properly rehearsed, mate, so Tom Sutcliffe wouldn't have had a go at you").  But without exception, even when working on touring shows cast out of members of the chorus (we did a touring MAGIC FLUTE that way) he hypnotises his performers into believing that they are not only equal to the task,  but are involved in a show which is going to knock the socks off everyone who sees it.

So I doubt that BT's reasons for withdrawing were connected with production wrangles, although there are always exceptions.  He's sung the thing anyhow, in its separate parts - it's not like this was a first rehearsal with unknown personalities, or a debut in a role.

Let's hope that whatever personal reasons may have been involved, that they are swiftly resolved with a successful outcome.