ALAGNA WALKS-OFF STAGE DURING LIVE PRODUCTION OF AIDA, AFTER HE WAS BOOED AND HISSED FOR HIS ARIA, "CELESTE AIDA"
Breaking news in Milan at this very moment, which is setting-off mobiles in a flurry of SMS everywhere: About twenty minutes ago, at the performance that is running tonight at Teatro alla Scala of Verdi's Aida, Alagna was heartily booed and hissed for his First Act aria, "Celeste Aida", and in turn, stormed-off the stage and refused to return.
It was so unexpected and sudden, that the theater had to bring in his replacement Radames (Tenor Antonello Palombi) fresh from backstage still in his street-clothes, as Palombi had no time to change into proper costume! Find the blurb below:
SCALA: DOPO 'CELESTE AIDÀ TENORE ALAGNA LASCIA PALCOSCENICO - MILANO, 10 DIC - Dopo aver terminato l'aria 'Celeste Aidà, fra gli applausi e qualche fischio, il tenore Roberto Alagna è uscito dal palcoscenico del Teatro alla Scala ed è stato sostituito nella seconda rappresentazione dell'opera di Verdi. Al suo posto in scena è entrato Antonello Palombi non in costume, fra le grida di parte del loggione «vergogna, vergogna» e «questa è la Scala». Già nei giorni scorsi si era parlato di qualche problema alla voce per il tenore che, peraltro con successo, ha interpretato Radames all'apertura del 7 dicembre.
A translation?
La Scala: After the aria "Celeste Aida", tenor Alagna leaves the stage, Milan, December 10. After finishing the aria, "Celeste Aida", between the applauses there were a few hisses, and tenor Roberto Alagna exited the stage of Teatro alla Scala, only to be replaced by his secondary for the rest of Verdi's Aida. In Alagna's place, literally within the scene, entered tenor Antonello Palombi, not in costume, between the shouts coming from the loggione section of the theater. The shouts were, "For shame! For shame!", and, "This is La Scala"! Already for a few days prior it was being said that the tenor had a few problems with his voice, but has already played Radames since the opening on December 7."
With this story beginning to break, stay tuned to Opera Chic for more information throughout the night on this exclusive development! But really...how ironic this happening, only a few days after poor Placido Domingo was booed for his conducting of Puccini's La Bohème? Alagna is all like, "You mess with the bull, you get the horns!" The official statement has yet to be made, but this type of behavior sends a clear message that Alagna has obviously quit performing Radames for the duration of the run. Ooohh! And boy messed with Frengo in his own city! That's incredibly stupid, but pretty bad-a$$!
(Update: It was reported that replacement tenor Antonello Palombi had to finish Act I in black JEANS and a black T-SHIRT. Poor man...among all that gold fairy-dust and gilded wardrobe, he must have looked absurd!)