Cast changes for Pavarotti’s Met finale

NEW YORK —  Carol Vaness will replace Daniela Dessi as Tosca in Luciano Pavarotti’s final staged performances at the Metropolitan Opera next year.

Met artistic director James Levine will take over as conductor from John Fiore in the three performances of Puccini’s “Tosca” on March 6, 10 and 13, the company said. Pavarotti replaces Fabio Armiliato.

Pavarotti caused a stir in May 2002 when he canceled two “Tosca” performances at the Met, citing the flu. He and the Met agreed last month to add the performances next March.

The 67-year-old tenor is scheduled to sing a single performance of Cavaradossi in “Tosca” at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on June 28, his first opera performance since singing the same role at London’s Royal Opera, Covent Garden, on Jan. 22, 2002.