Angela Gheorghiu cancels both Met performances with Covid
OperaThe Metropolitan Opera announced today that Angela Gheorghiu has cancelled her two Tosca performances on Wednesday and Saturday because of illness.
The Romanian soprano has independently let it be known that she has tested positive for Covid-19.
A flattering feature in the New York Times has been left fluttering in the wind.
Her replacement is to be the Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska.
Her replacement was Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska, who didn’t do well. Neither did anyone else. As for the bafflingly overhyped Romanian, there’s always retirement in Transylvania. Ta Ta.
Overhyped? She is one of the greatest singers alive today, with a great career spanning over 30 years now. Her performances drwa a big crowd and her voice is in great form. To think that the Met scheduled 4 performances with Monastyrska and only 2 with Gheorghiu in the first place really shows the face of the Met today… and today on the radio the whole world actually listened to the real, deplorable state of the Met. If Gelb would be wise, he would bring Gheorghiu (and others absent from the Met rooster) in for every season as she has a huge fan base in NY, but as he is not I doubt he will
The problem is that Angela Gheorghiu appears in only a few roles (Tosca, Mimi, Adriana Lecouvreur) and principally only in traditional productions. She never wanted to try anything new and never wanted to take risks. She also doesn’t have the best reputation (especially from earlier times) in terms of various demands etc. I don’t know if she has or hasn’t been offered roles or turned them down, it’s probably a combination of both.
The correct tense is “was” not “is”… 🙂
If you had seen her Mimi at the Met in 1994 , or her Adina at the ROH thereafter, or her Violetta/Tosca/Adriana you would not make so foolish a comment
Her Violetta at the Met–albeit several years ago in the Zeffirelli production–was transcendent. The only one in the past thirty years at the Met that lingers long in the memory.
That said, hers has been a confusing career.
Just heard it on R3. Whoever the replacement was, she’s got more flap than a Boeing 747.
Rather pitifully her Vissi d’arte had a bit of booing. No doubt one of the pursed-lip cognoscenti.
Attended last Sunday afternoon’s performance which was very enjoyable.
She’s 57 (why isn’t she retired?) and more susceptible to Covid reinfections, what was Gelb thinking, either way?
(Do even her die hard fans want to hear a 57 year old Tosca?)
At 57 Gheorghiu’s voice sounds more fresh and much better and more secure than the one of other sopranos who are 15 years younger than she is. She also looks much younger. Shame on you for you ageist comment.
As for Monastyrska who did the performance, her voice sounded terrible and wobbly on the radio broadcast (she is 47 yo). What was Gelb thinking offering Monastyrska 4 performances in the run and only 2 to Gheorghiu? It says a lot a about the Met today and people got to hear the Met yesterday on the radio.. it was painful!
Dorothy Kirsten sang it with great success at age 69 (at the Met in 1979).
I flew across the country to see the understudy, who pushed and pushed her voice.
What does it matter these days if anyone tests positive for covid? Lame excuse.
Ridiculous comment. Singing emits a lot of aerosols. Love (and other) scenes in opera usually involve singing very close to your tenor(/soprano) – great way to pass on Covid. So what should she and said tenor do – wear masks?
Covid – such as it was, which wasn’t much – is finished. Get over it.
Think of your grandad, Tony.
Well she just might be feeling ill!
Well, the orchestra sounded fine.
At 57 she is seven years younger than Renee Fleming.
…and Ms. Fleming sounds 64. It’s just nature.
Maybe we could wish her to get well soon?
Sad news especially since these were widely understood to be Gheorghiu’s farewell performances at the Met. Sadly Monastyrska sounded absolutely dreadful in last season’s Turandot performances and seems to be yet another overhyped mediocrity foisted on Met audiences while more talented singers like Stoyanova barely if ever appear.
Angela Gheorghiu is still singing as beautifully as she always has. She has always looked after her voice and must be hugely disappointed that she is now ill with Covid and is not permitted by the Met’s rules(sensible ones) to sing on Wednesday if she tests negative She loves to sing at the Met and I hope that she’s invited back soon to sing for her many American and other fans who would be so happy to welcome her back again.