Divastation

Music fans the world over know of the excess and pomposity that runs rampant among the World's most talented entertainters. However, this is not a discussion of the contract rider demands or odd behavior of Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey or Britney Spears. Far from it. Musically speaking, at least. This is a tale of the Opera.

I'm not well versed in the backroom shenanigans of today's greatest singers, but a recent dustup at the Lyric Opera of Chicago has brought to my attention the saga of Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna.

A special tale, these two.



She, born Angela Burlacu (taking Gheorghiu from her first husband) on September 7, 1965 in Ajud, Romania to a train conductor and a dressmaker. Studied at the Bucharest conservatoire and a star in her homeland by age 18. First arrived in London in 1991, Gheorghiu is now sometimes called "Draculette" for her fiery behaviour and "the last of the great divas". Once ranked on FHM magazine's World's Sexiest Women list at number 74. Was quoted saying, "I get my exercise by unpacking my luggage and making love," and filmed in 2001 refereshing her lipstick with a tube pulled from her cleavage during a performance of Verdi's Requiem.

He, born June 7, 1963 in Clichy-sous-Bois, France. Came onto the opera scene after winning the Pavarotti competition in Philedelphia. Sometimes called "the fourth tenor." Has one daughter from his first wife, who died of cancer.

The pair met while singing in La Boheme in Vienna in 1992. Fell in love while singing opposite one another in Traviata at Covent Garden, London in 1994. While singing together in La Boheme at the Met, the pair was married by Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The couple cares for Gheorghiu's orphaned niece, whose parents died in a car accident, as well as Alagna's daughter.

Here they sing Romeo & Juliette.

And now to the arrival of greatness....

1. Less than a year from the 1996 marriage, Gheorghiu argued with mentor, Georg Solti, over his treatment of parts of Verdi's Otello.
2. Gheorghiu refused to wear a blonde wig during a tour of Japan with the Metropolitan Opera. She missed one performance and subsequently covered the wig with a hood.
3. Fell out with Jonathan Miller in Paris, feeling she should "die alone" in Traviata rather than the planned for hospital ward setting.
4. Quarreled with Riccardo Muti during his time at LaScala.
5. Pulled out of Traviata in Madrid, complaining that it was vulgar and full of sexual references.
6. She failed to show for rehearsals for Puccini's "Tosca" at London's Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
7. She broke her contract to sing the role of Elisabetta in Verdi's "Don Carlo" at Conent Garden (2006).
8. September 2007, Gheorghiu was fired from "La Boheme" at the Lyric Opera in Chicago for missing rehearsals and a costume fitting she had demanded.
9. Alagna also had issues with Miller and the management of Paris's Bastille Opera.
10. He pulled out of the role of Don Jose in "Carmen" at Covent Garden to take a seemingly more prestigious part in Milan.
11. The Met in New York planned a 1999 production around the couple, but they took exception to Franco Zeffirelli's set design and were replaced.
12. Alagna was the first-ever performer ever to walk off during a performance at La Scala when he was booed during "Aida" in 2006.
13. The pair have been dubbed "the Bonnie and Clyde of opera" and "Ceausescus" (after the Romanian dictator that was executed in 1989).

The internet also leaves us this clue on what appears to be the smoldering ruins of a fan site.

"Due to the recent registration of Roberto Alagna's and Angela Gheorghiu's names, copywrite lawes forbid the creation and/or upkeep of unofficial fan pages dedicated to them."