In tomorrow's edition of Le Figaro, (excerpt here) Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu will make official what everybody knew and the two singers didn't even bother to deny much anymore -- they've been separated for a while and might be on their way to a divorce (she seems to be against it, for now, he says) after 13 years of very operatic marriage:
Angela ne veut pas entendre parler de divorce. On verra.
says the excitable tenor. O.K., we'll see. Sad news because it's always sad when a marriage ends, even a wacky one such as this one, but at least the Burton-Taylor reference from Le Figaro makes it lollersome -- imagine Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf remade with these two in the lead? As an opera, maybe, written by one of the Alagna brothers? Priceless.
Finally!
Posted by: KC Ren | October 09, 2009 at 01:34 AM
Is she going to appear in court? I doubt it.
Posted by: Miguel | October 09, 2009 at 02:41 AM
Can I ask her out now?
Posted by: A Real Cad | October 09, 2009 at 02:58 AM
Real Cad,
You must have a death wish!
Posted by: Constantine A. Papas | October 09, 2009 at 03:31 AM
Well, Roberto says in this Figaro article that Angela does not want a divorce, separation:yes! divorce:no! Could it be a "money" dilemna...
Posted by: Maggy | October 09, 2009 at 03:37 AM
If you read the entire article - not just the title - Roberto states quite explicitly that Angela is not considering divorce.
"Angela ne veut pas entendre parler de divorce."
To read about the actual situation, please refer to the contents of the article at http://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2009/10/08/03006-20091008ARTFIG00663-roberto-alagna-et-angela-gheorghiu-se-separent-.php
Google translator offers a decent translation for those who can't read French.
Posted by: Floria Tosca | October 09, 2009 at 04:40 AM
oh my god i got nothing left
Posted by: josia | October 09, 2009 at 05:28 AM
This is so sad! Although I've never liked HER much, I really hoped they were happy together!
I wonder what will happen next..???
Posted by: Despina | October 09, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Love the idea of the opera "Chi ha Paura di Virginia Volfe?" An Alaghiorgna production... I wish they'd leave Liz and Richard B out of this, though it is amazing that we still think about Liz and Burton! I don't think this will be the case with the star crossed stars(?)in the far future.
Posted by: nick | October 09, 2009 at 09:47 AM
One of the first things I thought when starting to enjoy internet opera fandom more than two years ago was: Now that seems like a relationhip about to end sometime soon.
Self-indulgent prophetics aside, the way he talks about money reads quite naive: "Of what I earn, half goes away on taxes, the other half is spent on expenses." Er, yes? That's life, right? You earn money, you spend said money, and if you earn a lot (like, 25 centimes d'Euro on CD sales), you get taxed accordingly, and of course spend more too.
I wonder sometimes if this is a consciously planted part of Monsieur Alagna's public heart-on-sleeve image or if he really ticks like that. Would be fascinating.
Posted by: yappy | October 09, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Did El Guapo and Trebs ever get hitched?
Posted by: El Cajon | October 09, 2009 at 07:14 PM
Re: Did El Guapo and Trebs ever get hitched?
I don't think so. Trebs said she is still planning to get married but the date and location has not been offically annonced.
Posted by: A-Kwun | October 10, 2009 at 03:52 AM
Although I appreciate the video choice (from the final scene of LA BOHEME), "Sono Andati?".. I think the duet from Act 3, "Addio, senza rancor!" might have been a more appropriate choie for the now seperated love couple, Angela and Roberto.
It makes sense to me that Angela would not desire a divorce. Here's why I think so. Gheorghiu is not her last name, it is the name of of her first husband (the engineer she left to be with Roberto). Apparently, the last name (Gheorghiu) is prestigious in Romanian music circles so although she dumped the husband, she kept the last name because it would be beneficial to her career. Similiarly, the connection to Alagna would also be beneficial to her career due to his world-wide popularity and brand name. I think women attached to royalty and high profile men tend to take this view -- retain the title but be seperated from the man.
BTW, I have a friend who is an opera singer that had worked with Gheorghiu and he remarked to me saying... "Angela pushes tenors away".
Posted by: Arion | October 10, 2009 at 04:11 AM
"Separated" is the proper spelling.
Posted by: Linda Smith | October 10, 2009 at 07:05 AM
This is what she has posted as a statement on her website this morning 'Angela Gheorghiu wishes to emphasize that she has been separated from Roberto Alagna for the last two years. Her attempts to save the marriage in this period failed.Having initiated divorce proceedings months ago, she awaits the finalisation of their divorce as soon as possible. Ms. Gheorghiu understands that Mr. Alagna is bitter about this situation. As for her part, contrary to his declarations, she would like to live her life now with peace and tranquillity.' This proves that she actually does want a divorce, I think it's really sad :(
Posted by: Anon | October 10, 2009 at 09:52 AM
This leaves no room for ambiguity:
http://www.angelagheorghiu.com/news/2009/oct/10/statement/
Posted by: Robert | October 10, 2009 at 11:55 AM
So what? Who would like to be married to Roberto, who to Angela. It had to be expexted right from the beginning. That never was what it seemed to be.
Richard Clark, voice agent
Posted by: Richard Clark | October 10, 2009 at 02:17 PM