Disturbance Caused by Stage Intrusion During Opera 'Tosca' Performance
On the 8th, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts announced that it plans to strongly protest to soprano Angela Gheorghiu, who played the lead role of 'Tosca' during the opera performance at the Grand Theater, regarding the disturbance she caused during the performance and to request an apology to the Korean audience.
During Act 3 of the performance, tenor Kim Jae-hyung, who played the role of Cavaradossi, Tosca's counterpart, interrupted the stage while singing Tosca's most famous aria "E lucevan le stelle" to express dissatisfaction. Kim Jae-hyung responded to the audience's thunderous cheers and encore requests by singing "E lucevan le stelle" twice, which Gheorghiu found displeasing. Gheorghiu appeared from the right side of the stage and seemed to try to stop the performance by saying "Excuse Me," stating, "This is not a recital," and then exited the stage. She returned shortly after to finish the performance but refused to participate in the curtain call.
Gheorghiu was supposed to appear on stage for the curtain call immediately after tenor Kim Jae-hyung. After Kim Jae-hyung greeted the audience and some time passed, Gheorghiu appeared from the left side of the stage, but boos came from the audience, and she turned around and left. As a result, the curtain call ended without Gheorghiu.
After the performance, the audience strongly protested, saying Gheorghiu's behavior was disrespectful to Korean spectators, and some even demanded ticket refunds.
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts stated that it is very rare for a performer to appear on stage during an encore to express protest and announced it would respond strongly. The center also posted an apology regarding the incident on its website.
Performance scene of tenor Kim Jaehyung (left) as Cavaradossi and soprano Angela Gheorghiu as Tosca. Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Below is the full statement from Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the apology posted on their website.
During the opera 'Tosca' performed by the Seoul Opera Company on September 8 (Sunday) at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Grand Theater, a disturbance occurred when soprano Angela Gheorghiu appeared on stage during the encore of tenor’s famous aria "E lucevan le stelle" in Act 3 to express protest. In relation to this, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts plans to strongly protest to Angela Gheorghiu’s side and request an apology to the Korean audience.
The encore of this performance was decided spontaneously amid continuous applause and cheers from the audience. It is a very rare case for a performer to appear on stage during an encore to express protest. Accordingly, the Seoul Opera Company at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts announced that it will respond strongly, referring to how similar cases overseas have been handled. Additionally, the following apology was posted on the Sejong Center website.
We deeply apologize to the audience for the inconvenience caused during the Seoul Opera Company’s
During the September 8 performance, a disturbance occurred when soprano Angela Gheorghiu expressed dissatisfaction with the tenor’s encore of the famous aria "E lucevan le stelle" by Cavaradossi, which was performed in response to the enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience. In response, the Seoul Opera Company at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts plans to strongly protest to Angela Gheorghiu’s side and request an apology to the Korean audience.
We sincerely apologize once again to the audience who trusted and visited Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and we will strive to present better performances in the future.
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