Nicolas Sarkozy”s visit here this week has reminded me of another Frenchman we had visiting a couple of weeks ago; the operatic tenor Roberto Alagna. He is married to the soprano Angela Gheorghiu whom I interviewed when she was here in April.
Angela has a reputation for being a diva. But she was charming, courteous and talented. She sang beautifully at a concert here and all were enamoured. It was another story with M. Alagna however. He chose to sing with a microphone. Heaven knows why. But the result was that his voice sounded like a bad recording. The beauty of an opera voice is in its purity. M. Alagna’s voice sounded about as pure as a bad telephone line in a storm.
At the interval I left in disgust. I figured being the half-Italian daughter of an opera critic I was entitled to storm out. I heard the following day from a French friend of mine who had been at the concert and caused a small riot during the interval.
She is a very well-connected friend and knew all the organisers of the concert. She demanded they come out from behind the scenes to talk to her and explain themselves.
“Please ask him to get rid of the microphone,” she urged. “This is what the audience wants, the way he is singing now is a scandal.”
The organisers came back from M. Alagna’s changing room with the following message: “He will not sing without a microphone, what matters is not what the audience wants but what M. Alagna wants. He can sing from a bath-tub if he wants to.”
Well, that might be an improvement. As long as he keeps his clothes on.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2009
Arrogant or what! He should remember who pays his bills. You did right to leave, there’s nothing worse than hanging on while hating the performance.
I am an opera singer. I hate singing with microphones. No self-respecting singer would choose to sing with one (the only time I do is when I’m asked to sing the national anthem at a sports event). Alagna is definitely a prima donna and gives opera singers a bad name.
Helena, good for you for leaving and for being a true opera fan who values the sound of the human voice!
Thank you Stephanie, I am thrilled to hear you say that. I hope Alagna is happy in his bath-tub.
Hx
Yes, but did he notice? Such massive egos need really strong
opposition like EVERYONE walking out or booing – has he got
some sort of website where we can leave a MESSAGE? I really
can’t be bothered to look for it. I saw his wife in concert with
Andrea Boccelli last night and was expecting her to be a bit diva-ish, but she was gorgeous, beautiful voice, flirtatious and
very sweet with AB. Must read your interview with her – was it
in the National?
Sadly the interview has not made it yet but I’ll let you know if it does. I agree totally with you when I met her she was all of the above, how amazing to see them together, lucky you.
No I don’t think he did notice but if he tries that stunt at La Scala he’ll soon hear about it. When I called my father (who has little idea of where I am actually living) and asked about him he said: “You can be sure that if he’s singing in Saudi Arabia his career is over”….!
Hx
Here-s a youtube link that ought to make you happy. Alagna was once booed at La Scala and simply walked out, waving his fist. Your father may have a point…
oops. I forgot to post the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxyBxbGF-Qg&feature=PlayList&p=CBD57AC03370FA21&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
Thanks Elisabeth, what an idiot, walking out makes him look really silly. I also watched an interview with him defending his actions, he does seem a bit brat-like to say the least…
Hx
Jajaja is a funny article i always thought Alagna has a mamooth ego more than Angela the problem with angela are cancellations and she misses the parctiques things like that.
I was going to see her in Carmen at the MET but she cancel
at the beginings for marital problems the appearances with Roberto and then a divorce statement it was 2 dates with another tenor and everybody bet that she will cancel that too.
And she did.
Where is the interview??? or at least could you tell us how she aswer? how she was? must be a great experience