The Met press department wisely isn’t waiting until the last minute to start announcing cast changes for autumn 2012: “Janai Brugger [pictured], a 2012 winner of both the Met’s National Council Auditions and the first place winner in the recent Operalia competition, will make her Met debut as Liù in Puccini’s Turandot on October 30 and will also sing the role on November 2, 5, and 9. Brugger replaces the previously announced Takesha Meshé Kizart, who is recovering from recent abdominal surgery. Guanqun Yu, the second-place winner of the Operalia competition, will make her Met debut as Leonora in Verdi’s Il Trovatore on October 17 and will sing the role on October 20 and 25.” Apparently TBA is having abdominal surgery as well!