OFF STAGE

Meanwhile, from Paris comes word that Americans Grace Bumbry and Neil Shicoff have canceled their appearances as Carmen and Don Jose in three performances of Bizet’s opera “Carmen” this week in the ancient Roman arena at Nimes. Organizers of the Nimes Festival said both cited health problems as the reason they could not perform. Shicoff cannot make it because of bad health and fatigue, said a spokesman. As for Bumbry, the spokesman said, she twisted her knee . . . and “you can’t have a Carmen who limps.” Bumbry is to be replaced by Livia Buda of Hungary and the new Don Jose will be Italian tenor Georgio Aristo.