Soprano Nadine Sierra Cancels Months of Performances Over Health Issues

Soprano Nadine Sierra has cancelled the next couple of months of her schedule due to health issues, a decision that removes her from the new production of "Maria Stuarda" at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Marina Rebeka will replace her in the Munich staging.

Sierra announced the cancellations in a statement posted to social media. "Hi Everyone 🙂 Wanted to say that I'm very sorry I've had to cancel the next couple of my schedule," she wrote. "It's never an easy decision, but this period in my life has made it a bit necessary. I'd like to share a little bit of what's been going on and send a little reminder to you ladies about getting things regularly checked should you have any issues or uncertainties of your own related to this."

What happened, in the soprano's own words

Sierra described a women's health issue that has developed over several years. "Three years ago, I had to have two biopsies done on my left breast," she said. "I had some cysts that looked suspicious and thankfully, everything came out benign."

The problem did not end there. "However, one of these cysts/area of my breasts has become an issue over these past few years/has grown maybe triple in size," she continued. "In recent months, it's been causing a lot discomfort, pain, stress and a few new symptoms I hadn't had before four months ago."

A biopsy (a procedure in which tissue is removed and examined for disease) showing benign results means no cancer was found at the time — but as Sierra's account makes clear, benign cysts can still grow and cause symptoms that eventually require surgery.

Why she is stepping back now

"I've finally made the decision to make some time for myself and get it taken out completely," Sierra wrote. "Of course, this takes time and I'll need to allow myself to recover. Through these years, I've had this area of my breast checked, but it's come to this point for me now."

She framed the message partly as a call to action for other women. "If any of you ladies out there are dealing with some complications related to this area of women's health, please don't delay getting regularly checked or fully resolved," she said. "I know I'm not a health professional; I'm just another woman wanting to give a friendly nudge to anyone dealing with the stress of having something like this and not sure what to do."

She closed on a forward note: "I wish you all the best and am looking froward to seeing you again when everything is taken care of on my end. Lots of love, Nadine."

What does this change for audiences?

The most concrete casualty is Munich. Sierra will no longer participate in the new "Maria Stuarda" production at the Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka takes over the title role of Donizetti's Tudor queen.

There is one bright spot for European audiences: Sierra's Spanish concerts remain on the schedule for January, suggesting the singer expects to return to the stage early in the new year once she has recovered.