Curtain — and ire — rises at opera
MILAN, Italy — It was classic La Scala intrigue.
The famed opera house threw its understudy into one of its biggest nights Sunday, removing purport Giuseppe Filianoti at the hindmost minute for the season-opening premiere of “Don Carlo” after he made mistakes for the time of a dress rehearsal.
American sense Stuart Neill, 43, who has mostly performed in favor and third part casts, got the break of a lifetime in the title role and survived his unexpected debut of “Don Carlo” with generous applause — and a smattering of boos.
That’session not bad for the self-ordained critics of La Scala’s uppermost balconies, who in another series hurled salami and risotto at singers they deemed unworthy. In 1982, they level booed legendary character Luciano Pavarotti at the same time that he sang “Don Carlo,” considered among the most difficult tenor roles. Last year, tenor Roberto Alagna walked from stage during a exhibition of character on the stage of “Aida” when he was booed during the opening aria.
“Tough crowd, but no I wasn’t nervous at completely,” Neill said backstage still in costume just minutes after the curtain came down.
Filianoti didn’t go quietly, telling the Milan daily Corriere della Sera that he had been “betrayed” by the opera furnish with a house, “stabbed in the back at the last minute.”
“La Scala wanted me to saw I was sick. But I, Giuseppe Filianoti, am in perfect condition, ready to engage myself in a role in which I feel secure,” the wall-paper quoted him as saying.
Filianoti showed up for the first act, but left without sleeplessness his understudy through to the definitive duet with Elisabetta, sung by soprano Fiorenza Cedolins.
Opening night at La Scala is one of Europe’sitting most highly anticipated cultural events of the form, regularly attended by the cream of Milanese society, captains of Italian industry and heads of government. This year, the presidents of Rwanda and Togo attended.
