In a remarkable turn of events at one of London's premier cultural venues, the Royal Opera House witnessed an unprecedented drama during a performance of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot. The French tenor Roberto Alagna, who was portraying the lead role of Prince Calàf, fell ill after the second act, prompting an emergency substitution that saw a senior staff member take to the stage.
An Unexpected Performance
With the adage 'the show must go on' firmly in mind, Richard Hetherington, the theatre's head of music, stepped into the breach. Dressed informally in a jumper, chinos, and trainers, Hetherington assumed the role of Calàf for the remainder of the performance in central London. This improvisation was necessitated by the specialised nature of the part, as major opera houses typically do not have a cover standing by for every show.
Adapting the Production
The third act resumed with significant adjustments to accommodate the last-minute change. Most notably, the character's iconic showstopper aria, Nessun Dorma, was omitted from the performance. Hetherington sang from the wings while Tatiana Novaes Coelho, the show's choreologist, covered his steps in costume, ensuring the visual continuity of the production.
However, this adaptation did not go unnoticed by the audience. According to reports from The Times, some attendees expressed their displeasure by booing, upset at missing out on the famous aria. In response, the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) emailed audience members the following day, explaining the "exceptionally rare situation" and offering them 50% of their ticket price in credit as a gesture of goodwill.
Reactions and Background
A spokesperson for the RBO commented, "Roberto Alagna was taken unwell during yesterday evening's performance of Turandot, which prevented him from completing Act III. We wish Roberto a swift and full recovery." Writer Kenan Malik shared his thoughts on social media, describing the event as "disappointing, dramatic and a strangely appropriate ending all at the same time," while praising Hetherington's bravery and impressive effort.
Richard Hetherington is no stranger to the stage, having previously performed roles such as the title character in the British premiere of Henze's Pollicino, Yniold in Pelléas et Mélisande, and First Boy in Die Zauberflöte. He made his conducting debut with La sonnambula in 2011 and is listed as the conductor for the schools' matinee performance of Turandot on 4 February.
Context of the Opera
This incident occurred during the 19th revival of Turandot, Puccini's 12th and final opera, which explores themes of love, fear, devotion, power, loyalty, life, and death in a fantastical, fairytale version of imperial China. Puccini died in 1924 at the age of 65, leaving the opera unfinished; his student, Franco Alfano, completed it, including the reprisal of Nessun Dorma.
In the current revival, the role of Turandot has been shared between Anna Netrebko, Maida Hundeling, and Anna Pirozzi, while Calàf has been performed by Yusif Eyvazov, Arsen Soghomonyan, and Roberto Alagna. This event underscores the unpredictable nature of live theatre and the dedication required to maintain performances under challenging circumstances.
