Don’t jump! Covent Garden loses Tosca star
News
The ROH’s unlucky revival of Tosca, which has had two changes of Cavaradossi so far after Bryan Hymel was unwell on opening night, is losing the American tenor altogether.
Here’s the word from ROH:
Bryan Hymel is indisposed and has withdrawn from all remaining Tosca performances. The following cast changes have been made to the role of Mario Cavaradossi for the remaining performances.
Italian tenor Riccardo Massi will perform the role of Cavaradossi on Tuesday 14 December at 7:30pm, replacing British-Italian tenor Freddie De Tommaso.
Freddie De Tommaso will perform the role on Wednesday 15 December at 7:30pm, replacing Bryan Hymel. The performance will be relayed live from 7:15pm to cinemas around the world, with encore screenings from Wednesday 19 January.
On Friday 17 December at 7:30pm, Freddie De Tommaso will perform as scheduled.
On Sunday 19 December at 3pm and on Wednesday 22 December at 7.30pm, Freddie De Tommaso will again replace Bryan Hymel.
All clear?
Big break for Freddie, interesting that he’s switched to the night of the live relay.
What can one say but Gott in Hymel.
It’s what it is. Lucky to have any opera going on when so many people are sick, and that’s folk in the audience as well as singers flying in and out again, and orchestral players.
I don’t mean to be unkind, and obviously Bryan Hymel is a great talent, but he’s chronically canceled for years – I swear I thought he’d retired from staged performances and taken a big opera administrative job somewhere.
I really don’t understand either booking the singer or making commitments (if I am the singer) at this point.
Is there something I don’t understand here?
He’s the new Ben H. And I know and love Ben. But the heavy repertoire is a killer for so many, even if you have a great technique (which he did, and then he didn’t). Happens to golfers all the time. The “yips.”
Who’s this Ben?
I feel so bad for Bryan. He’s so incredibly talented and has canceled job after job. I was hopeful the pandemic would have helped him get back to full strength, but clearly something isn’t right. I hope he doesn’t turn into Rolando Villazon. He sings the heroic repertoire brilliantly when he’s well. Best wishes that he gets his health taken care of.
He did turn into RV, sadly…
Gott in Hymel
Bryan would not have saved this performance. I was there and it was a nightmare. Missed the boat with Freddie as last night they switched him for some… lesser performer, to put it kindly.
Most of the reviews are being terribly generous but this one seems to get it right. https://sophialambton.substack.com/p/puccini-in-a-puppet-show-the-royal