The leading singer Danielle de Niese has withdrawn from the Queen's Hall concert on Saturday with the Dunedin Consort, part of the Edinburgh International Festival, due to an illness.

Louise Alder will now perform with the Dunedin Consort.

A statement to ticket buyers said: "I write to let you know that, sadly, Danielle de Niese has had to withdraw from the concert on Saturday due to illness.

"We are extremely grateful to Louise Alder who will take her place and perform with the Dunedin Consort."

Louise Alder’s recent opera engagements include Ilia (Idomeneo) for Garsington Opera, her debut with The Royal Opera as Eurydice (Orpheus), Lucia (The Rape of Lucretia) and Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier) with Glyndebourne Festival Opera.

Concert performances include the title role of Poppea (L'incoronazione di Poppea) with Academy of Ancient Music and Richard Egarr, Vaughan Williams' Symphony no. 3 with London Symphony Orchestra and Mark Elder, Poulenc’s Gloria with Hallé Orchestra and Cristian Macelaru, and Zélidie (Zaïs by Rameau) with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.