Melodramatic Tenor Explains Action

The opera tenor Roberto Alagna explains why he left the stage when a Milanese audience booed his performance in Verdi's Aida.

Roberto Alagna, the tenor who departed the stage abruptly when audiences at La Scala in Milan, Italy booed his performance, is now attempting a come-back to the opera house. The understudy, still dressed in jeans, completed the role in Alagna's place, but the management at La Scala dismissed the temperamental tenor. Four days after his ignominious departure, Alagna was back at the opera house, singing parts of Madame Butterfly in the piazza while Aida continued on inside without him.

Alagna attributes his rather unorthodox behavior to his health, claiming low blood sugars caused by stress and emotion limited his ability to continue on with the performance. Others, however, are skeptical, pointing out that Alagna failed to inform anyone of his condition at the time.

Alagna perhaps must realize that he is in good company being booed by the La Scala audience. This notoriously tough crowd simply awarded him the same treatment it had already given to opera greats such as Luciano Pavarotti and Renée Fleming.