Ben Heppner is back, but the Metropolitan Opera's production of Tristan und Isolde continues its unlucky streak.

While the male lead in Tuesday night's performance was filled by the great Canadian tenor, soprano lead Deborah Voigt had to step down because of illness.

Ben Heppner, left, performs as Tristan with Janice Baird as Isolde in the Tuesday performance of Tristan und Isolde in New York.
(Seth Wenig/Associated Press)

Voigt was knocked out by the same stomach ailment that caused her to rush offstage in the middle of Act 2 during the second performance of the opera on March 14.

Heppner was to have sung all six performances of the Wagner opera, one of the most challenging ever for a tenor voice.

But he was laid low by an infection that caused him to miss the first four performances, including the Saturday performance simulcast to cinemas.

According to a report in the Vancouver Sun, Heppner had been misdiagnosed in New York, but returned to Canada and was treated at North York General Hospital in Toronto.

Doctors there discovered he had an abscess and he was given antibiotics that brought an infection under control. The singer said he immediately felt better.

Splendid voice

Heppner was reported to be in splendid voice for the Tuesday night performance, although the Associated Press reported he cracked on some of the high notes.

Heppner's recovery is welcome news for lovers of Wagner, as he is scheduled to sing the lead in Siegfried in Aix-en-Provence, France, this June and July.

When Voigt had to leave the stage on March 14, understudy Janice Baird took on the role for the rest of the performance.

On Tuesday, Baird took on the whole role of Isolde, throwing herself into the emotions of the part.

She drew cheers for her singing, matching Heppner note for note in the high register. Critics called her performance impressive.

This performance of Tristan und Isolde had been a draw because it featured a pairing of two the world's greatest operatic voices, Voigt and Heppner.

There is still one final opportunity for that to happen — if both are well for the Friday performance.

With files from the Associated Press