Friede Bows Out of ‘La Traviata’ Title Role, Citing Health Reasons

COSTA MESA —  Citing health reasons, soprano Stephanie Friede has withdrawn from three upcoming performances in the title role of Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Opera Pacific announced Thursday.

Friede, who reportedly became ill during rehearsals, will be replaced as Violetta by Brenda Harris at performances at 2 p.m. on Sunday and by Nova Thomas at 8 p.m. on Jan. 19 and 2 p.m. on Jan. 21, company general director David DiChiera said in a prepared statement.

Harris, an American singer, has sung Violetta with the New York City Opera touring company and has also appeared with Ft. Worth Opera and Connecticut Grand Opera, among others. Thomas, also a young American soprano, is a native of Lilesville, N.C., and was heard as Adalgisa in Opera Pacific’s production of Bellini’s “Norma,” with Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge last February at the Performing Arts Center.