Traviata baritone Roberto Frontali (he sang the role of Giorgio Germont this past Tuesday at la prima, last night it was Leo Nucci's turn in the role) attacks conductor Lorin Maazel in today's Repubblica:
"I haven't been booed, I only received applause (ed: more or less, yes, he's about right oc), the audience complained about the cuts and about the musical choices (ie, about Maazel: remember that Maazel decided to cut a few choice sections of the score to try to make things move along faster, ah the irony). Before general rehersal, the maestro told me that he had chosen to cut my cabaletta from act II. I told him that audiences at la Scala are accustomed to hear that cabaletta but he replied that no, opera is theatre and you cannot stop the action in its tracks. He told me he'd think it over some more, then he went ahead and cut it anyway. I think that whether or not that cabaletta is good, it has been written by Verdi. I don't see the reason for such a radical choice. I'm a singer and I don't have the power to overrule such a decision, just like a member of the orchestra cannot refuse to play a certain piece. But make no mistake: I'm not responsible. Leo Nucci didn't sing the cabaletta either, had he done that I'd have gotten seriously angry. Musical choices must be defended. I was ready to do like Alagna did: I was ready to show up in front of the theatre and sing the cabaletta, twice".
It's impressive that a veteran such as Frontali chose to attack the maestro after just one performance, and make a thinly veiled threat in form of a joke, esp. indirectly dragging the admirably calm Leo Nucci into this. And Alagna jokes? Maazel has made a lot of mistakes that first night, but such jokes are really a faux pas, come on. It's already a trainwreck, this Traviata: the more seasoned artists should try to make things easier for everybody, this isn't helping la Scala. Our humble suggestion: no more interviews or anonymous leaks to friendly journalists until the show's over. It's just a couple of weeks, come on. You're hurting la Scala at this point, no matter how sloppy Maazel has been at la prima or how small and frankly unimpressive Gheorghiu's voice sounds on that big stage in that big hall.
but then, it sure is a lot of fun for us: omg teh circus! stay tuned!