THIS JUST IN: Dessay's Halftime Sonnambula @ Opera Bastille

Earlier tonight in Paris, at Opera Bastille, where Natalie Dessay was supposed to be singing "Sonnambula", a woman came on stage shortly before showtime and informed the public that La Nata was unwell, but that she'd sing anyway. The first Act was, apparently, OK, even if one could tell that Dessay was not in top shape, but just before Act 2, the woman came out again and said that Dessay could not go on singing, and they just canceled the rest of the show.

Members of the audience were of course shocked that they had no understudy to cover for her -- vive la difference!

(thanks to C.)

~**UPDATE February 19, 2010, 2:55 PM Milan Time**~

Opera Chic's gorgeously Parisian, Dessay-loving friends called Opéra Bastille this morning to inquire about ticket policy, and were told that there would be no refunds or exchanges made to any tickets of last night's La Sonnambula. House policy states that when half of the show is performed, they are under no obligation to compensate their patrons.

~**UPDATE February 19, 2010, 8:45 PM Milan Time**~

Thanks to reader Xalira -- the folks over at the Opéra have listened to the people, and now they're at least giving out discounts to the unlucky ticket holders of the Sonnambula Interrupta.

Comments

[Bec]

WOW!

[Marshie]

Wondering if Cheryl Studer is available to replace the pixie.

[Constantine A. Papas]

Not to have a standee for the lead singer is operatic malpractice. It does not speak well for the artistic management of a world-class opera house. This will never happen at the Met, ROH, or La Scala.

[IsingOpera]

Whatever happened to "the show must go on?"

[Dearly]

Really? Did this really happen? I'm laughing at how inept all of this is. Do you think Natalie demanded this as part of her contract or something? Because none of this makes any sense at all!

[Mabel]

I hope she's ok. I don't know her whole story, but didn't she have to have vocal surgery not long ago? What was the cause of that?

[Amanda White]

:(

[Azucena]

Wow. They should have had an understudy prepared. It's too sloppy for such an opera house. Especially that they KNEW she was not feeling well, it was not like she 'fell on the stage and broke her leg' (like DiDonato at ROH - and she did sing even like that!).

Hope Natalie gets well soon, I am waiting impatiently for her Ofelia in Thomas' Hamlet @the Met.

[bekah]

poor elf lady-hope she feels better for the met hamlet-she pulled a Callas;)

[Elisabetta]

It's amazing how copycat sites are picking this up 12 hours after you posted it, OC...

[nick]

Opera has become nothing but a comedy of errors!

[yappy]

Sadly many theatres have this no-refunds-after-half-the-show-is-over policy. It would really be more fair to cancel the whole performance.

[Rumbol]

Maybe Natalie somehow sabotaged her cover? THE PLOT THICKENS!

[Paolo M.]

No refund? It's crazy!

[FallStaff]

Elisabetta, predictable is as predictable does.

[Linda Ginsburg]

Whatever you many think of Natalie as a singer, I can assure you that she did not either sabotage a cover nor make a demand that she have no cover. It is common in European houses not to have a cover because a substitute can generally be found in time to go on IF NOTIFIED due to the relatively short distances between European houses. (This is not the case in the US because of the sheer size of the country or the amount of time needed to travel from overseas. This does not apply in the case of Waltraud Meier, however. ;-))

The onus seems to fall on Opera Bastille who knew that Ms. Dessay was day-to-day and should have had someone standing by.

I have a bias in this because my neighbor's daughter, Mara Blumenfeld, costumed Natalie for "Lucia" and "Sonnambula" at the Met. Mara does not suffer fools gladly (she is a top-flight costume designer who has worked at the top regional theatre houses in the US and at the Donmar Warehouse in London) and she loves Natalie. No prima donna antics whatsoever. Did not make overbearing demands but worked with Mara in making sure the fit of the costumes were congenial with the requirements of an opera singer.

[Xalira]

Incredible! I knew she wasn't feeling well, but not having an understudy is so unprofessional!

OC, if you want to update the post: they are now offering free or reduced entry to some operas and concerts, see more on http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/live/onp/annexes/info_somnambule.php

[RobNYNY1957]

There was a documentary series a few years ago called "The House" about Covent Garden, and I was shocked to see that they did a lot of operas with no covers for the leading roles. They got into the predictable trouble.

[KZ in New York]

This is very sad. I saw Dessay sing this part at the Met, and it was one of the most transcendent experiences I've had at the opera. They should have cancelled if she wasn't well and they didn't have an understudy.

[Les Mitchell]

Is it that easy to find an understudy who can do Sonnambula? It seems to me that if a soprano can sing Sonnambula, she shouldn't be an understudy. It's a dilemma. Think backl to Rome in 1958, when Callas chopped off a Norma after the first act. Again no understudy - and for good reason. Any soprano who can sing Norma ain't no understudy. Ditto in Milan in 1982 when Caballe' cancelled Anna Bolena -- chaos resulted.
In a way, it's kind of funny, and as a previous poster stated, it can be a comedy of errors. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised at the fact that many companies don't have understudies. I mean --- who can understudy roles of this magnitude?

[so...]

They've hired a replacement for the next two performances.

[Graham Lister]

Shame on Paris opera,If i was a season ticket holder would certainly not renew for next season if thats there policy.When Dessay was sick and couldnt continue manon in barcelona,the cover took over for the last act..I know in most theatres that if the singer does half the opera they get paid but for the public having to pay is scandalous,and they wonder why opera is losing audiences.gl

[Chris]

What has happened to her? She cancelled at the Met not long ago too. She used to pair with Florez often; recently not at all. I wonder if her voice is in trouble? Anybody know?