The husband half of the husband-wife duo starring in Tucson Symphony Orchestra's "Trouble in Tahiti" has bowed out hours before the first of three concerts.

Bass-baritone David Crawford, a regular at the New York Metropolitan Opera, flew into Tucson Friday to sub for an ill Kelly Markgraf. Crawford will sing opposite Markgraf's wife, mezzo Sasha Cooke, in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra's "Tahiti for Two" concerts this weekend.Β 

TSO officials said bass-baritone David Crawford is replacing Kelly Markgraf, who became ill earlier Friday. He and his wife, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, were set to sing the concert version of Leonard Bernstein's one-act opera in three performances this weekend as part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival's "Bernstein At 100."

Crawford, a 10-year regular at the New York Metropolitan Opera, and Cooke will perform "Tahiti" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,

7650 N. Paseo Norte in Oro Valley. The concert repeats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Tickets here.

"Tahiti for Two" is part of the Tucson Desert Song Festival's "Bernstein At 100," which wraps up this weekend. Click here for remaining concerts.


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Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com or 573-4642. On Twitter @Starburch