We all like a little drama, don't we? That's what opera's all about. Joyce DiDonato went well beyond the call of duty providing it at the Royal Opera House tonight in Il barbiere di Siviglia.
Shortly after finishing Una voce poco fa, alone on the bare stage, she walked to the corner and her leg just seemed to give way under her. There was nothing to trip over - perhaps she just slipped.
She hauled herself up and carried on singing, but it was clear from her limp that all was not well, and her next appearance was with a walking stick, still limping.
A ROH spokesman announced before the second half that she'd sprained her ankle but was going to carry on despite the pain. And she did - with all her usual sparkle - wielding a flower-bedecked crutch as if it were just some fashion accessory. After all, that's what Rosina would do, isn't it?
She horsed around at the curtain call, waving the crutch in the air, but she didn't look her usual happy self.
No word at this stage whether she'll complete the rest of the run, but I suspect from this showing she'll try her best. Even if it means a wheelchair.
*** Lots more about the show tomorrow! ***
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UPDATE - Joyce has in fact BROKEN HER LEG!
She was diagnosed with a fractured fibula (calf bone)and she's now in a cast. This is an incredibly painful injury - a friend of mine recently suffered the same break and nearly passed out with the pain before the ambulance arrived (and had difficulty even sitting comfortably in her ROH seat two weeks after the event). So how Joyce managed to soldier on for three hours is a mystery. Talk about a trouper!
More details - and photos - from Joyce herself on her blog, here.
Wasn't it a fantastic night and poor old Joyce. I'm pretty sure she actually caught her footing in the gap on the floor where the tree from the first act was wheeled out: even before she went down she was watching her footing round that area, I noticed it a couple of times.
The stage was also quite slanted, not easy with heels on. Loved the bit where they changed the surtitles to make Rosina say she'd got cramp! According to staff I know there she really did leave in a wheelchair: he's hoping for the rest of the run.
I've also not heard the audience at the ROH roar like they did for Florez near the end for easily a couple of years since La Fille. I really did think he was going to do an encore :(
Posted by: londonstuff | July 05, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Believe it or not, when Bartolo asks "Cos'e' stato?" (what's the matter?), Rosina's first line in Act 2 really is "E' un granchio al piede" - I've a cramp (literally, a "crab") in my foot!
Posted by: inter mezzo | July 05, 2009 at 12:50 AM
How sad that this happened to someone as marvelous in every way as Joyce. I hope she takes time to rest and repair her ankle. I worry some that she sings too much (unlike Florez). If she needs to take a few weeks or a month off, I hope she does it.
Posted by: Hal | July 05, 2009 at 08:23 AM
I suggest that her fans email her with their wishes for her fast recovery. Her email is available on her website. She merits lots of support from her many fans.
Posted by: Hal | July 05, 2009 at 09:04 AM
What a fantastic night!! Have to admit that my antipathy towards this work was obliterated (yes, that strongly) by the wonderful performances on stage and in the pit.
Big shame about JDD - I really hope she recovers as it would be a pity for the show to lose such an effortlessly at ease Rosina. JDF was .... choose any superlative here.....Spagnoli didn't look a finta (finto?) Figaro at all....Corbelli clowned admirably (have to admit though that I've seen a funnier Bartolo recently)...And then there was Ferruccio Furlanetto...surely the reincarnation(s) of Alastair Sim and Alec Guinness?
A final word? Come on Joyce!
Posted by: HairMan | July 05, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Okay - broken fibia...ouch x 1000 - for this alone she should be given tenure at CG for the rest of her career...
Posted by: HairMan | July 05, 2009 at 12:11 PM
From what I read, recovery may take 6 weeks without stressing her leg. I hope she takes the necessary time to recover and doesn't try to sing, at least in opera, again until she is completely well.
Posted by: Hal | July 05, 2009 at 09:18 PM
What surprises me a bit is her calling him "Senor Florez". I would have thought they had sung together enough to be "Joyce" and "Juan Diego". Does he call her "Miss DiDonato"? I wonder.
Posted by: Hal | July 05, 2009 at 10:54 PM
She's joking with "Señor Florez" :)
Posted by: Kenderina | July 05, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Quite remarkable to go on after having sustained such an injury. And JDF pulls out of the 13th because it's too close to the live relay on the 15th. Interesting comparison.
Posted by: markeastlondon | July 06, 2009 at 08:03 PM