"I Decided Not to Encore"... Opera Singer Refutes 'Korea Insult Controversy'

Interrupted performance due to stage intrusion... Flood of criticism
Sejong Center demands apology for 'performance disruption'
Georgiu "Agreed in advance not to do encore"

World-renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu is giving a greeting at the press conference for Seoul Opera Company's Puccini's "Tosca," held on the 30th of last month at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Angela Gheorghiu (59), the world-renowned soprano who recently held a concert in Korea, refuted the controversy surrounding her by stating that "prior agreements were not honored."

During the performance of "Tosca" held on the 8th at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Grand Theater in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Gheorghiu stormed onto the stage and stood on the table. In Act 3, when tenor Kim Jae-hyung sang "E lucevan le stelle" twice, she appeared from one side of the stage, waving her hand in dissatisfaction. She then repeatedly said "Excuse me" before shouting "It's not a recital. Respect me" and disappearing. This unexpected incident briefly interrupted the flow of the performance. When angry audience members booed Gheorghiu during the curtain call, she immediately retreated backstage.

In response, the organizer, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, demanded an apology for the "performance disruption," but Gheorghiu rebutted by mentioning prior agreements. Her agency, Intermusica, stated in a press release on the 11th (local time), "It was agreed and confirmed in advance with the conductor and the 'Tosca' production team that no one would perform an encore during the performance," adding, "Gheorghiu believed that an encore outside the narrative flow of the opera would disrupt the story."

They continued, "Despite this agreement, during the Act 2 performance, the conductor suggested an encore of 'Vissi D'arte Vissi D'amore' to Gheorghiu, which she declined to ensure a perfect performance." They also claimed, "Unfortunately, her opinion was not respected during the Act 3 aria sung by the tenor," explaining, "Gheorghiu, who has strong convictions, felt this issue was a personal insult." Furthermore, they expressed, "Gheorghiu deeply regrets the series of events," while also conveying "respect and love to the Korean audience with whom she has maintained a wonderful relationship for years."

In opera, it sometimes happens that after a vocalist passionately performs a signature aria in top condition, the audience's enthusiastic response leads to such situations. The world-renowned tenor Lee Yong-hoon, who first appeared on the Korean stage last year with the Seoul Opera Company's "Turandot," also sang the signature aria "Nessun Dorma" twice due to the exceptional response from the audience.

However, Gheorghiu did not accept this. During her performance of "Tosca" at the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) in Austria in April 2016, when the world-famous tenor Jonas Kaufmann sang "E lucevan le stelle" as an encore, she did not appear. A flustered Kaufmann then sang over Puccini's melody, "We have no soprano," asking the audience for their understanding.