The curse of the Ring strikes Opera Australia again as Greer Grimsley pulls out due to ill health.

Greer Grimsley has withdrawn from Opera Australia’s Melbourne Ring Cycle on the advice of doctors. The American bass baritone was to have played Wotan and the Wanderer in the forthcoming revival of Neil Armfield’s 2013 production opening in November, but will now be replaced by fellow American, James Johnson. A prominent Wagnerian singer, Grimsley is a leading interpreter of Wotan, a role he has sung for many opera houses in productions including Robert Lepage’s controversial cycle for the Metropolitan Opera and Stephen Wadsworth’s acclaimed one for Seattle Opera.

Last week, subscribers to the Melbourne Ring received an email informing them that: “Greer Grimsley has suffered a serious health issue which, unfortunately, means that he will not be in sufficient physical condition to perform in the Melbourne Ring Cycle.” His name was subsequently replaced on the OA website with Johnson’s. Grimsley is currently playing Sweeney Todd in Sondheim’s musical for the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York and is scheduled to play Jochanaan in Salome at the Met in December.

Speaking to Limelight, OA Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini confirms Grimsley’s withdrawal saying: “He...