Placido Domingo withdraws from ‘Gianni Schicchi’ in Madrid

Plàcido Domingo has canceled his upcoming appearance in Woody Allen’s staging of “Gianni Schicchi” in Madrid, due to the recent death of his sister, the tenor’s publicist confirmed on Thursday.

“Gianni Schicchi” is still set to run at the Teatro Real in Madrid from June 30 to July 12. Domingo had been scheduled to play the title role in Puccini’s comic opera; the part will now be played at different performances by Nicola Alaimo and Lucio Gallo.

The short opera will be presented at the Teatro Real on a double bill with Enrique Granados’ “Goyescas.”

Domingo, 74, is still officially scheduled to appear in “Gianni Schicchi” at Los Angeles Opera in September, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday. The revival production is set to kick off L.A. Opera’s 2015-16 season on Sept. 12, on a double bill with Franco Zeffirelli’s staging of “Pagliacci.”

Allen’s acclaimed production of “Gianni Schicchi” had its world premiere in 2008 at L.A. Opera, but Domingo wasn’t part of the cast for that staging. The tenor currently serves as the general director of the company.

In recent weeks, Domingo withdrew from appearances so that he could be with his sister, María Josefa, who was in a hospital in Boston. In May, he canceled his appearances in Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Royal Opera House in London.

María Josefa Domingo de Fernandez died June 9 from cancer, according to her brother’s publicist. She was 72.

“Schicchi” and “Pagliacci” are scheduled to run Sept. 12 to Oct. 3 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Domingo is also still scheduled to conduct performances of the latter opera.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT