Angela Gheorghiu blows up co-star’s encore

From the Korea Times:

Renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu caused a stir during a performance of Puccini’s “Tosca” in Seoul, halting the orchestra and interrupting her co-star’s mid-show encore, much to the dismay of opera enthusiasts who had eagerly anticipated her performance.

The incident occurred during Sunday’s performance at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, when Gheorghiu, regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of all time, abruptly took to the stage midway through the third act, as Korean tenor Alfred Kim was performing an encore of the famous aria “E lucevan le stelle” in response to the audience’s enthusiastic applause and requests for more.

The Romanian soprano signaled for the orchestra to stop and although conductor Jee Joong-bae initially tried to continue, he eventually halted the music in response to Gheorghiu’s persistent gestures. The soprano then said, “Excuse me. It’s a performance. It’s not a recital. Respect me.”…

Read on here.