Opera Australia announced today that Takesha Kizart, the acclaimed American
soprano who performed the title role in the 2008 Opera North production of Tosca will replace Cheryl Barker in the forthcoming Sydney Summer season. Miss Barker has withdrawn from the role for personal reasons.

The Chicago-born soprano has received outstanding critical acclaim for
performances around the world and worked with Christopher Alden on the 2008
production for Opera North in the same production being presented by Opera
Australia.

Miss Kizart will be joined by an outstanding cast including Rosario La Spina in the role of Cavaradossi and John Wegner in the role of Scarpia. Nicole Youl, Carlo Baracelli and Warwick Fyfe will perform the final eleven performances.