Things got heated at the Met's Don Carlo last night when the first act campfire burned a little too enthusiastically, sending smoke drifting across the orchestra pit. "This was my first time seeing this production" emailed reader John "and I didn't realise anything was wrong until a stagehand came on to put it out with a fire extinguisher and everyone started laughing."
Everyone except Ramon Vargas and Barbara Frittoli, that is, who carried on singing as if nothing was happening. Or almost. Ramon Vargas, reports John, could barely keep a straight face. And who could blame him?
Hope he got a warm hand on his exit.
