Star jumps in to save tonight’s Rigoletto at the Met
NewsThe Mexican tenor Javier Camarena has replaced a sicj Stephen Costello in tonight’s show. The Met gushes: ‘Javier Camarena saves the day! Don’t miss tonight’s performance of Rigoletto, as the star tenor steps in at the eleventh hour as the Duke, replacing Stephen Costello, who is ill. Camarena is spending the afternoon in vocal coachings and costume fittings to prepare for his last-minute performance. Be there to witness true tenor heroics!’
Camarena happened to be in the house, rehearsing L’Elisir d’Amore.
The picture is from La fille du régiment.
Was he also the official cover? If not, and the first cover (who presumably rehearsed) is not ill, then why the desperate publicity? Shades of the less than par Boheme several years ago with Opolais covering after a Butterfly the evening before instead of the contracted (and vastly superior) Hong. I acknowledge that Camarena is an excellent singer, but the last minute switcharoo isn’t going to sell one more ticket. We’ve seen this desperate show before…yet another unnecessary expenditure by a company on the skids.
Camarena wasn’t the cover (MET does not have the two covers anymore for a decade, since Gelb’s arrival). There were three other Cover substitutions yesterday due to Covid (Sparafucile, Borsa & Count Ceprano). Camarena was asked because the Duke cover is also the Lloris Ipanov cover in Fedora and why to risk to have him infected, if the Covid spreads into Fedora cast and he may be needed? It is also effecting the Magic flute cast and comprimario roles in Fedora.
Thank you. You’re a good soldier, Ms. Scappucci. (“La”??)
If you’re a Cover, then you should be able to go on and do the job, knowing your stuff, otherwise no point.
congratulations, you win a cigar
Apropos of nothing—
Yesterday afternoon I checked the ticket availability for the Met‘s evening performance. I was pleased to see that the evening show was very well sold.
I am looking forward to hearing the reaction of people fortunate enough to be in the house.
I was there. The house was full and Javier great.
i would have paid to see javier and not costello in this production but found out too late.
I was there. Camarena deserved the applause for saving the show at short notice but his voice was a bit small for the Duke at the Met. It was obvious after listening to Beczala two nights later as Loris Ipanov.