Mariusz Kwiecien Returning to Met Opera's "Don Giovanni"

Mariusz Kwiecien backstage

Scores of Mariusz Kwiecien fans are celebrating the news that the Metropolitan Opera has announced his return to the cast of Mozart's "Don Giovanni." The Polish barihunk recently underwent surgery for a herniated desk and rumors were flying that he would not only cancel the rest of his run of Giovanni at the Met, but he would be canceling his December run in Krakow, as well.

Mr. Kwiecien, his surgeon and manager all reported that “his recovery is progressing at a remarkable pace.” The Met is reporting that he will return on October 25 and that he is expected to carry out all the stage action, with the possible exception of climbing down a ladder in the opening scene. Kwiecien went under the knife on Tuesday.

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Mariusz Kwiecien Taken to Hospital for Herniated Disc

Kwiecien as Don Giovanni at Covent Garden

As we did when barihunk Daniel Okulitch was involved in a car accident, we will try to keep readers apprised of developments concerning Mariusz Kwiecien's injury during a rehearsal of Don Giovanni. Here is the latest update from the New York Times.

By DANIEL J. WAKIN, NY Times

Mariusz Kwiecien, the Polish baritone who was cast in the title role of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of “Don Giovanni,” which opens on Thursday night, underwent surgery for a herniated disk on Tuesday, his manager said. “The doctors feel that Mariusz’s prognosis is excellent,” said the manager, William Guerri, of Columbia Artists Management. But it was unclear when he might return to the stage. “It’s a wait-and-see proposition,” Mr. Guerri said. Mr. Kwiecien felt pain during the opening scene of Monday’s dress rehearsal, the manager said. He was taken by paramedics to a hospital, said the Met spokesman, Peter Clark. The Met tapped Peter Mattei, who was on hand for a production of Rossini’s “Barbiere di Siviglia,” to replace Mr. Kwiecien for the opening of “Don Giovanni.” The opera has 16 more performances into March, although Mr. Kwiecien was scheduled to be in the cast only through Nov. 11.

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