The singer, who celebrated his debut in the part of Calaf a few days ago, wrote on Facebook: “Dear friends, as you all know, I have been struggling with a severe viral infection for the last six weeks, which has affected my whole body and especially my whole nervous system very much."
He added: "Although I am feeling a little better now, my body is still very weakened. In a conversation with my attending doctors, they strongly recommended that I take a real break, get completely cured and regain my strength.”
Beczała also said: “You all know how seriously I take my commitments. Nothing is harder for me than to cancel. But not least in view of the many commitments I have this year and in the years to come, I have to put my health first now. Singing is a high-performance sport and that only works if our bodies are really healthy … I am sure that I will soon be fully recovered, and I am already looking forward to singing again for you, my dear audience.”
The Zurich Opera wrote on its website: “The Zürich Opera House and all participants of the Turandot production wish Piotr a speedy recovery.”
Beczała has been a regular star on the world’s most prestigious operatic stages for over two decades now.
(mk/gs)