Heppner drops L.A. Opera gig

Ben Heppner, who was to have made his L.A. Opera debut in September as Canio in “Pagliacci,” has dropped out, the company said Tuesday. He’ll be replaced by tenor Roberto Alagna, whose wife, soprano Angela Gheorghiu, will appear in the role of Nedda. They performed here last season in “La Boheme.”

A news release from L.A. Opera quoted Heppner’s management as saying he had decided “that the role of Canio no longer suits his voice and has removed it from his active repertoire.”