Intermezzo

Hoff side

Above, here's Angela Gheorghiu and new best friend Cezar Ouatu putting a new slant on the Barcarolle from Les contes d'Hoffmann for Romanian TV.  

Below, Angela tackles Handel with the aid of Cezar's expert fingering skills.

Angela Gheorghiu grabs Eurovision prize

Rumours about Angela Gheorghiu's relationship with Romania's unlucky Eurovision entrant Cezar Ouatu had circulated for months. They were quashed shortly before the Eurovision final when Angela issued a press release knocking the classically-trained countertenor. Everything about the presentation (video below) was wrong, she said, adding that Cezar "must return to good music and good taste" - before wishing him good luck.

In an about-turn, Angela has now confirmed on TV her romance with the man who looks better in a dress than she does.

She was cagey about the details, but it's widely reported in the Romanian press that they paired up some time ago. They are said to have moved in together last week after meeting at the Eurovision pre-selection a year ago. Cezar was a controversial choice, and Angela is said to have lobbied strongly for his selection.

Given Angela's usual willingness to share her private life, some may find it surprising that it's taken her this long to come clean. Elements of the Romanian press unkindly speculate that Cezar was cunningly playing the oldest of tricks to keep Eurovision's huge gay audience on his side.

Cezar is 33 to Gheorghiu's 47+, but he told an interviewer that age is just a number. His last girlfriend was 25, and he says he'd be happy with an 80 year old.

Angela finds a mini-Bob

Look what Angela Gheorghiu got herself for Xmas.

After her husband (49) shared pictures of himself with Angela-lookalike Aleksandra Kurzak (35), Angela (47-51) has unearthed a mini-Alagna to share her Facebook page with.

The brave boy is 33 year old Spanish pop singer and former reality TV star David Bisbal.

Roberto and Angela to divorce

This time it's for real. Angela Gheorghiu announced today that her divorce from Roberto Alagna is "imminent" and "by mutual agreement."

But showbiz is showbiz, and "we do not rule out performing together as before."

No official comment from the soon-to-be-former Mr Gheorghiu yet, but he's clearly not wasted any time in moving on:

Gheorghiu back in London

Angela Gheorghiu returns to the Royal Festival Hall on 10 May 2013. No word yet on programme, musicians, etc.

Tickets go on sale to Southbank Members on Monday 29 October.

Angela Gheorghiu's Korea crisis

Angela Gheorghiu's visit to South Korea isn't going too well. 

First off, two of her planned four shows of La bohème with Vittorio Grigolo had to be cancelled after tickets sold poorly amidst overpricing complaints. The most expensive were 570,000 won, or over £300.

Then one of the remaining two performances was postponed due to Typhoon Bolaven - no, not another one of Angela's mystery illnesses, but the strongest storm to hit Korea in a decade. 

Now the remaining tickets are being flogged off at discounts of up to 87% - and even so, there are plenty remaining.

If things carry on like this, Angela might find herself reduced to actually turning up for her bookings to earn a crust.

Roberto and Angela back for more

La bohème - Royal Opera House, 23 June 2012

The second of the two shows celebrating the 20th anniversary of Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu's first encounter was more musically accomplished than the first. And the curtains worked. But we were never allowed to forget why we were there. Like the first, the evening had the air of a football testimonial - two sides, singers and orchestra, battling it out for the greater glory of the stars.

Now we are 20 - Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna 2gether 4eva

La bohème - Royal Opera House, 19 June 2012

 

Last night marked 20 years since Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna first clapped eyes on each other in some obscure crevice of the Royal Opera House.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, a fount of scurrilous gossip and hilarious candids ever since, Covent Garden have mounted two special performances of La bohème, the John Copley production that is even older than the famed couple's relationship. This was the first.

Angela opens wide

One of a series of photos taken during rehearsals for this week's La bohème at the Royal Opera House - more on Angela's Facebook page.

Angela Gheorghiu's role in Holocaust

Angela Gheorghiu has joined forces with greying Romanian rockers Holograf  ('Holocaust' in English, according to Google) to record what sounds from the clip like a Bono-style charidee single. Only not for charidee.

Curiously, they've not chosen to exploit the festive market; the record emerges sometime next year.  If you can wait that long.

Angela Gheorghiu's career change

Anyone who's seen her tackle the letter scene in La traviata or Adriana Lecouvreur will no doubt be stupefied to learn that Angela Gheorghiu is planning a career diversion - acting on stage.

“I’m speaking with a national theatre in my country, I’m thinking to do just a drama, just speaking,” she told the Daily Telegraph. “After that, who knows? I love London theatre.”

Once she realises that it involves vocal projection and learning lines,  she may of course fall back on the minicab option.

Angela Gheorghiu, Supersub?

It appears the Karmic Wheel has turned full circle and slapped Angela Gheorghiu upside the face.

Plácido Domingo, long-announced as the main attraction in the Bolshoi's reopening gala, withdrew late on claiming a "scheduling conflict". (A wise if tardy precaution given his past form).

Fortunately the Bolshoi had found another big name to take his place a few days before the big night. Angela Gheorghiu, more experienced at pulling out than stepping in, used a score for her aria from The Queen of Spades and according to viewers sounded underprepared.

Wingela

EMI are offering the opportunity to win Angela Gheorghiu's entire EMI back catalogue simply by signing up to a mailing list. 

Don't forget to read the small print first. You are warned  "By submitting your data you are agreeing to updates about Angela Gheorghiu."

Mr and Mrs Alagna - together again on stage

Angela Gheorghiu has just confirmed - in front of a live audience at a Royal Opera House promotional event - that she'll be sharing the stage with her husband in La Bohème next year.

(If they can find a conductor brave enough.)

Faust at the Royal Opera House

Faust - Royal Opera House, 18 September 2011 (first night)

looking for a John Tomlinson impersonator?

Despite some outstanding performances from a top-drawer cast, this second revival of David McVicar's Faust somehow fails to hit the mark. Part of the blame is of course Gounod's - never afraid to cut a flowing story dead in its tracks with a crowd-pleasing ballet or drinking song.

Vittoria! for Royal Opera House Tosca

Tosca - Royal Opera House, 17 July 2011

 

There was something missing from tonight's Tosca - the Maestro's vocal accompaniment. Has he bowed to public pressure and resolved to conduct in silence?

See Placi and Angie for £12 (plus binoculars)

 
Travelzoo have an excellent offer for Placido Domingo and Angela Gheorghiu at the O2 on 29 July. Tickets originally priced at £51.25 are reduced to £12.25, including booking fees. 

The offer seats are at the very rear, so you'll be effectively watching on screen with amplified sound. Still, with the discount it's no more than a West End cinema ticket.

For full details and to book, go to http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/l/86832491-1066885/

Taking a stab at Tosca - Gheorghiu, Kaufmann and Terfel

Tosca - Royal Opera House, 14 July 2011

Talk about a hot ticket. Queuing for the 67 day seats for this Tosca started the night before. But after a season short on star power, the lure of Gheorghiu, Kaufmann and Terfel (for just two shows) is hard to resist. Even if the staging is well-worn, and frankly not that exciting in the first place.

Mrs Alagna says hi

 

Who's Mrs Alagna waving to?

Angela Gheorghiu to plunge into directing?

Mrs Roberto Alagna has declared an interest in directing opera "and sooner maybe than you think! This is a real part of me, deep inside, and I do understand some things." Directors are of course less replaceable than sopranos, and whether any opera house is brave enough to take a punt on hiring someone with a cancellation record longer than their attendance record remains to be seen.

The full interview (sweet tooth required) is  in this month's Opera magazine, teaser page online.