Intermezzo

Angela out again

After agreeing to cover for Anna Netrebko's Faust non-appearance in Baden Baden, then pulling out herself, Angela Gheorghiu has now done exactly the same to Hamburg.

"Surprisingly" according to the the city's International Musikfest, who are obviously not used to her wavering ways.

This time round she can't use the excuse of "a new production that has not been conceived from the very beginning for me" - it's a concert performance.

Did someone say bite me?

The Gheorghiu cancellation story gets odder.

The capricious diva has pulled the Facebook statement quoted below. Baden Baden remain silent on the 'withdrawal' and continue to show her name in their cast list.  

Is this a brief delay to formalise 'contractual negotiations' or has Angela had a change of heart?

 

Gheorghiu pulls out (again)

It always sounded too strange to be true. Angela Gheorghiu, the opera world's most notorious canceller, filling in for Anna Netrebko, holder of the #2 position?

Now Gheorghiu announces via Facebook that she's not going to replace Netrebko in the Baden Baden Faust this summer after all. It seems she forgot her principles when she agreed to the gig: 

"I am very sorry to have to turn down the offer from the Baden-Baden-Festspielhaus to perform in Faust in June this year. It has always been one of my principles not to sing in a new production that has not been conceived from the very beginning for me. It is also rather unusual for me to have to replace another singer. Nevertheless, I have tried to make it possible and to be available for the whole period but unfortunately I have not been successful in doing this."

Baden Baden, it appears, have not yet been told.

Gheorghiu does Netrebko sub double

Covent Garden isn't the only venue to suffer from Anna Netrebko's tardy Faust cancellations. I was a little surprised that the ROH didn't contract Angela Gheorghiu to fill at least a couple of the holes - she is after all the only soprano who knows the production.

But it now seems Angela will get the chance to wield her jewels after all.

After saving the day when Harteros pulled out of a high profile gig last month, Gheorghiu's Marguerite replaces Netrebko's in both Hamburg and Baden Baden.

The Einspringerin of the year title cannot be far away.

SuperAnge to the rescue!

Unfortunately not as a sub for Anna Netrebko - at this stage, anyway.

No, tonight it's the Festspielhaus Baden Baden who will benefit from Angela Gheorghiu's miraculous powers.

After Anja Harteros pulled out at the eleventh hour from tonight's Verdi Gala, Baden Baden were left with a major problem. No other soprano could slot into the planned programme, meaning her duetting partner Johan Botha was forced to cancel as well.

Luckily, SuperAnge was able to fly in - complete with a different Verdi programme, a tenor partner (Zoran Todorovich) and and an amenable conductor (Ivan Repušić).

"There are only a handful of singers in the world with the range to sing a  night of Verdi," said a Festspielhaus spokesman. "It is the first time an artist has taken over an engagement here at such short notice to cover for illness".

Angela Gheorghiu sinks fangs into dentist

It's official. Cezar is out (if he was ever in).

On the day that Roberto Alagna opens in Carmen at Covent Garden, Angela Gheorghiu has taken to Facebook to share her new love.

He is Romanian dentist Mihai Ciortea,  who at 26 is at least 22 years younger than Angela.

More Mihai: