John Relyea Replaces D'Arcangelo as Mephistopheles at Houston Grand Opera

Bass John Relyea will make his Houston Grand Opera debut as Mephistopheles in Gounod's "Faust" this October, stepping in for Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, who has withdrawn because of a family emergency.

Relyea sings all five performances, which run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 15 at the Wortham Theater Center. Five performances in just over two weeks mark a compressed run for the company's season opener slot.

He is no stranger to the role. Relyea has performed Mephistopheles at the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Ballet and Opera, the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera. In plain terms: Houston gets a singer who has carried this role on four of the world's major stages.

Who else sings in the new cast?

Relyea joins a cast led by tenor Matthew Polenzani, who makes his role debut as Faust. Soprano Pretty Yende adds two debuts at once — company and role — as Marguerite.

The supporting cast:

• Baritone Sean Michael Plumb returns to the company as Valentin.
• Mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce, a Butler Studio alumna, sings Siebel.

Giacomo Sagripanti, music director of the Tbilisi Opera House, conducts the HGO Orchestra and Chorus. Peter Relton revives David McVicar's production.

The takeaway: a last-minute substitution lands a seasoned Mephistopheles in Houston, and audiences will watch three major debuts unfold across a single five-performance run.