Covent Garden’s new show hits first night calamity

From our man in the stalls:

First night of Tannhauser began disastrously with the news that Stephan Vinke the Tannhauser can’t sing and it was sung thinly from the side by Norbert Ernst while Vinke walked it though, The good news it was a lovely balletic orgy and Lise Davidsen was superb!

UPDATE: The good news is that the Tannhauser stand in was drowned out by Lise Davidsen the chorus and anyone else singing and the last line in the second act is “ on to Rome” and as someone said “ let’s hope he doesn’t come back”! It does beg the question does Covent Garden have no substitute for this major role?!

CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT:
Due to illness, Stefan Vinke had to withdraw from singing the role of Tannhäuser a few hours before the opening performance. The role was walked by Stefan Vinke and sung by Norbert Ernst from the side of stage. Ernst last performed for the Royal Opera in the 2015 production of Ariadne auf Naxos.