Angela Georgiou, lead of Opera 'Tosca', rejected the curtain call by ignoring the audience in South Korea → 'First-ever happening'
Sep 09, 2024
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In the performance held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 8th, Georgiou, who plays the main character Tosca, complained to the other actor and conductor during the performance, causing the performance to be temporarily suspended.
The happening occurred shortly after the end of the representative aria of 'Tosca' sung by tenor Kim Jae-hyung in Act 3. When the audience, who admired Kim Jae-hyung's performance, did not stop cheering and clapping, the conductor Ji Jung-bae continued to play the encore in response. Encore during opera performances is rare, but it was not very unusual. Georgiou, however, was greatly dissatisfied with this and showed his opposition by waving his hands.
Georgiou's protest continued even after the encore. She asked the conductor to stop the music, but as the conducting continued, she made more violent gestures and stopped playing. At this time, in a loud voice that even the audience could hear "This is not a recital, but an opera. You have to respect me" made the situation worse, shouting. Eventually, the performance was temporarily suspended, and the flow of the performance was cut off.
Due to this incident, the atmosphere of the performance was stagnant, and Georgiou's attitude was unusual even in the curtain call. Georgiou did not appear even after the other cast members finished greeting one after another, but was escorted on stage by Samuel Yoon, but immediately left the stage after being booed by the audience. Some of the audience complained, shouting "Home (go home)", and Georgiou left without saying hello, so the curtain call ended without a soprano.
An audience member who watched the performance said, "During the encore, Georgiou came on stage and stood dissatisfied," he said, explaining the situation at the time. Later on social media, `Georgiu's attitude as if he was trying to teach the audience was arrogant", There were a number of complaints saying, "It ruined the atmosphere of the performance." In response to the incident, opera officials expressed dismay, saying, "It cannot be possible for a world-class singer to leave the stage being booed by the audience."
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Angela Georgiou is considered one of the world's most famous opera stars since her splendid debut as Mimi of 'La Bohème' at the Royal Opera House in London in 1992 and the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1993. In particular, he appeared in the 2001 opera film 'Tosca' and became the epitome of this role, and until recently, he was highly praised for performing 'Tosca' at the Royal Opera House.
This happening has led to various controversies both inside and outside the performance industry. Attention is focusing on what kind of repercussions Georgiou's unusual behavior will have in the future.
mj.cho@sportschosun.com
