Angela's Alagnaitis

"With deep regret Angela Gheorghiu has to announce that she has to withdraw just from the first six performances of the new production of CARMEN at the MET later this year due to personal reasons. She will appear in the title role of CARMEN as scheduled on April 28 and May 1, 2010".

That was the message posted on Angela's own website earlier today.

Fascinatingly, the Don Jose for those first six performances is none other than Mr Gheorghiu.

And even more fascinatingly, he predicted the whole thing way back in April, in front of a small interview audience at Covent Garden. He said they were unlikely to perform together again in the near future because it's so much hard work for Angela being on stage with two people at once - meaning the character and the husband. You might think acting lessons would be a simpler answer, but then nothing's ever simple where these two are involved.

With Elina Garanca replacing Angela, lucky Met audiences will instead be able to catch the same pairing that the Royal Opera House will have showcased a couple of months beforehand.

For the April and May Met performances Angela will be joined by reluctant secksy-symbol Jonas Kaufmann. So no problems there.

Comments

[Gert]

When you posted the Tosca photos, and, again, when I attended Tosca, it did cross my mind that she might be pregnant. I said nothing at the time, because it's unlikely, and even though the cancellations would support my speculation, I would still consider it unlikely. But not impossible. (A colleague of mine, a year older than Angela, is due to drop her first sprog next month)

[Furst]

Yea!!! We win!!! Of course Angie is still scheduled for the April performances with Kaufmann and the best overall Carmen next year will be in Munich with EG, JK and ID. Plus EG is still scheduled for the the Carmen next year. Still, we you can never hear too much of her. I trust you're going to a performance or 2 of her Carmen in London.

[Hal]

Another blog predicts a definite divorce before long. Splitsville for the two. Much more gossip there about the matter.

[Gert]

Speculation about Angela and Roberto getting divorced is hardly new and I would guess is more likely to happen as their girls grow older. But divorce and pregnancy are not mutually exclusive; indeed, under certain circumstances, one can hasten the other

[Barbara]

Is the mask photoshop?