American soprano Dawn Upshaw pulled out of her first Australian tour after inflammation of the vocal chords left her unable to sing.
Upshaw, who opened the tour in Brisbane on Thursday night, cancelled her subsequent appearances after consulting a throat specialist in Melbourne, the Australian Chamber Orchestra said in a press release. Upshaw was scheduled to perform with the orchestra this month in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.
Australian Chamber Orchestra artistic director Richard Tognetti appeared on stage at the start of the concert and informed the Sydney audience that Upshaw would not appear. The Sydney Morning Herald says there was "much disappointment, and some anger" at the announcement.
Upshaw, who was supposed to sing works by Bach and Bartok, went on stage before the concert at about 6:30 p.m. to test her voice but decided she would be unable to perform, according to the newspaper. With about 30 minutes remaining before the concert, Tognetti decided to substitute a performance of Bach's Double Concerto. Tognetti and principal second violinist Helena Rathbone served as soloists.
— Michael Markowitz
"Concert struck by diva's
illness"
The Sydney Morning Herald - 15 September 2003
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