Call it "baseless rumor" all they want, but the opera lovers in Japan should be very disappointed.
From Yomiuri Shinbun (9/16/2011):
ドイツ・ミュンヘンのバイエルン州立歌劇場の今月下旬からの日本公演（日本舞台芸術振興会など主催）で、福島第一原発事故による放射能汚染を懸念し、当初参加予定だった団員約４００人のうち約１００人が日本行きを拒否したことが１５日明らかになった。
It was revealed on September 15 that 100 members of Bayerische Staatsoper refused to come to Japan for the fear of radiation contamination from the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident. Bayerische Staatsoper, based in Munich, Germany, is scheduled to perform starting late September. 400 members were scheduled to come to Japan.
日本公演は９月２３日から１０月１０日までで、主に東京でワーグナーの「ローエングリン」などを披露する。
The performances in Japan will include "Lohengrin" by Wagner, and are scheduled from September 23 to October 10, mostly in Tokyo.
同歌劇場の広報担当者によると、欠員を補うため外部の演奏家を臨時に雇用する。
According to the public relations of the opera, they will hire performers from outside temporarily to fill the vacancies.
オーケストラ、合唱、舞台技術などの分野ごとに、団員が何人ずつ参加しないかは明らかでないが、数人の主役級歌手が出演をキャンセルしたことは主催者から発表されている。日本に行かない団員は４週間の無給休暇を取るという。などの分野ごとに、団員が何人ずつ参加しないかは明らかでないが、数人の主役級歌手が出演をキャンセルしたことは主催者から発表されている。日本に行かない団員は４週間の無給休暇を取るという。
It's not clear how many people are not coming in orchestra, chorus, and theater technology. The Japanese organization who invited the opera has announced that several leading singers have canceled the trip. Those who will not come to Japan will take 4-week unpaid vacation.
The leading tenor in "Lohengrin", Jonas Kaufmann, canceled the trip due to a surgery scheduled in early September. He is one of the most sought-after tenors in the world.
Checking the major sponsor's site (Canon), the performances will be in Tokyo, and Kanagawa (Yokohama City).
Well, even if Yokohama loses the Staatsoper, the triathlon world championship is still good to go over the weekend in Yokohama City. The swimming portion is in Tokyo Bay of course. Mayor Hayashi said in the press conference the other day that the world-class triathletes are coming to Yokohama.