Changing a musical’s leading man just two weeks before the first night might be thought a risky move. But Opera North feel they have a winner with Eric Greene, a rising and powerful American baritone rapidly drafted in to play Billy Bigelow in their production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, due to open at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, on 2 May.

Keith Phares, originally scheduled to play the fairground barker, had to withdraw through illness, the company says. Enter Greene, already a veteran of Porgy and Bess, La Traviata, Aida and Carmen, who attracted their attention through the glowing reviews received in March for his UK debut with the Birmingham Opera Company in Jonathan Dove’s Life is a Dream. The Birmingham Post wrote about his "gorgeous bronzed tone"; to the Sunday Telegraph he was "elemental".

Greene will be performing the role and singing the hit song "If I Loved You" and the rest in evening performances only. At matinees, the role will be played by Keith Higham, winner of the Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Award in 2006. The production moves on from Leeds to The Lowry, Salford (23-26 May), then plays at the Barbican in London during the summer (15 August – 16 September). .Click for details here.

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