Marlis Petersen, who was to have sung one performance, on April 9, will take her place for the first six shows -- on March 16, 20, 24, 27, 30 and April 2. Another soprano, yet to be announced, will sing the performances on April 5 and 9. Simon Keenlyside sings the title role.
Mr. Murphy played the guitar and sang; the performances were heavy on extended guitar and drum solos.
Alwyn Mellor, a British soprano, will sing the final performance, on Sept. 27, in the Wagner opera, which opens the company's season at the Kennedy Center Opera House.
(According to a Met spokesman Ms. Dessay is still scheduled to sing the remaining performances).
Gwyn Hughes Jones, from Wales, is to make his Met debut in the role on March 28 and sing the final performances, on March 31 and April 3 and 6.
Joseph Kaiser made his house debut in the role and committed to sing several more performances, and Matthew Polenzani is to sing the final two performances, at the end of December.
(Ms. Cook will sing the two final performances, scheduled for early October).
On Tuesday night Ms. Dessay sang the second performance, conducted by Fabio Luisi.
(A brief Hebraic interlude occurred when he sang the second performance of Stravinsky's "Abraham and Isaac," in Berlin).
Having noted the highly mixed reviews for the opening-night cast, I opted for the second cast, which sang the final performance of the run, on Sunday afternoon.
