CHICAGO (CBS/AP) - The Lyric Opera of Chicago reports that star mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich has withdrawn from all of her scheduled performances this month in the opera company’s revival of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.”

Lyric general director William Mason said Wednesday that Aldrich would be replaced in the title role by another American mezzo-soprano, Katharine Goeldner, who was originally scheduled to sing in only one October performance.

Mason said Aldrich, who would have been making her Lyric debut, withdrew from her five scheduled performances because of side effects from her pregnancy.

Lyric plans six performances of “Carmen” between Oct. 13 and 29, and another five with a different cast March 12-27. The March performances will be the first Lyric appearances by Bulgarian mezzo Nadia Krasteva.

The announcement about Aldrich comes just days after illness sidelined another principal in Chicago’s fine arts scene. New Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Riccardo Muti had to withdraw because of “extreme gastric” distress over the weekend, and is returning to Milan for treatment. He is expected to return in late January if all goes well.

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