La Cieca has just heard that Jossie Perez has been canned from the prima of the Met’s new production of Romeo et Juliette. A source at the company says that the mezzo was protested by maestro Bertrand de Billy. The plum of singing the trouser role of Stephano on the opening night goes to Joyce DiDonato, who saved the Met’s bacon earlier this month when she agreed on short notice to stand by for the ailing Olga Borodina in La Cenerentola.

DiDonato reportedly will take home an extra-fat paycheck for learning Stephano on short notice and singing the first two performances. Romeo opens two weeks from Monday, and Perez rejoins the cast on November 21. No word yet who will jump into DiDonato’s Cherubino performances between now and then.