Pregnant Netrebko withdraws from Met `Boheme'

NEW YORK (AP) - Soprano Anna Netrebko is extending her pregnancy leave and has withdrawn from performances of Puccini's "La Boheme" at the Metropolitan Opera in December and January.

Netrebko, 36, announced in February that she and her fiance, Uruguayan baritone Erwin Schrott, were expecting, and the Met said Friday she is due to give birth next month.

"She has decided that she will need a few more weeks than originally planned to be ready for her return to the stage," the Met said.

Netrebko's final performance before her maternity leave was a June 27 concert in Vienna, Austria, and she withdrew from a highly anticipated new production of Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" at Austria's Salzburg Festival.

A Met revival of Massenet's "Manon" was changed to "La Boheme" after she became pregnant, and she withdrew from the first four performances while still planning to sing on Dec. 29, and Jan. 3, Jan. 6 and Jan. 10.

Netrebko now plans to return to performing with a revival of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Met on Jan. 26 and Jan. 29, and Feb. 3 and Feb. 7. The final performance is scheduled for a movie-theater simulcast and radio broadcast.

On the Net:

http://www.annanetrebko.com

http://www.metopera.org