‘Idomeneo’ loses two singers

Celebrated singers Anna Netrebko and Angelika Kirchschlager have dropped out of the cast of Los Angeles Opera’s season opener, Mozart’s “Idomeneo.”

According to a statement from the opera company, soprano Netrebko asked to be released from her contract because she was “caught off guard” by an unusually heavy schedule promoting her new CD and DVD, as well as shooting promotions for European and American television, including an upcoming “60 Minutes” profile for CBS. Mezzo-soprano Kirchschlager has bowed out “citing exhaustion after her recent appearances in Salzburg.”

Adriana Damato, cast in the role of Ilia for some performances, will now sing the role for all performances in Netrebko’s absence, and Kate Aldrich will perform the role of Idamante for all performances, replacing Kirchschlager in Kirchschlager’s scheduled dates.

The opera company’s general director, Placido Domingo, is still slated to alternate with Allan Glassman in the title role of the opera, which runs Sept. 8-19 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.