Upshaw ill; N.Y. opera is canceled

Suffering from an inflamed larynx, soprano Dawn Upshaw has pulled out of all her October performances. As a result, the widely anticipated New York premiere of the new Osvaldo Golijov opera, “Ainadamar” -- scheduled to take place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater beginning Oct. 28 -- has been canceled. The lead role was written for Upshaw.

A composer who creates music drawn from his Latin and Jewish background, Golijov, 42, was among 24 recipients of “genius” grants announced Sunday by the MacArthur Foundation.

“She’s crushed” about the Golijov opera, Alec Treuhaft, Upshaw’s manager, said Monday, adding, “She’s sick. She’s a singer; it happens.”

Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center, co-producers of the opera, are working to find new dates for a New York run of “Ainadamar.” Its next performance, with Upshaw, is scheduled for Feb. 29 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Louise Roug