It looks like Gary Lehman will finally get a chance to use the full extent of his acting abilities when (inevitably) he takes over the final two performances of Tristan und Isolde next week. In honor of Gary’s return to the cast, the Met is splurging on an actual rehearsal for the maverick renegade heldentenor next Monday, with props and the full complement of the (cover) cast — gosh, who knows, maestro Levine may even pop in! (Lehman’s previous preparation for this most exacting of all operatic roles consisted of little more than a quick walk-through with an assistant stage director.) 

In the meantime, Ben Heppner seems to be recovering steadily from the “blood-borne infection that had abscessed in the pelvic region” which prevented his participation in this season’s revival of the Wagner music drama.