A Fright at the Opera Over No-Show Pavarotti

The New York Post ^ | 5/10/02 | John Lehmann

[GeneD]

May 10, 2002 -- Luciano Pavarotti has confided he is "unlikely" to perform at his much-touted farewell New York opera tomorrow - triggering fears of a Pava-riot at the Met.

Aficionados paid up to $1,875 a ticket to see the legendary Pavarotti perform "Tosca" after the Metropolitan Opera dramatically inflated prices on the understanding it would be his final staged opera here.

[GeneD]

This has to be the funniest story since...the Stones announced their new tour.

[sleavelessinseattle]

Hey man, did anyone see a tall animated rabbit with a brooklyn accent running around the dressing room area with a spray bottle full of oil of alum? I hear he does a good impression of Leopold the Conductor as well. FIGARO, Figaro Figaro Figaro...squeek!

[MozartLover]

"Met spokesman Francois Giuliani declined to comment on Pavarotti's health, but confirmed that all of 3,000 tickets, priced between $75 and $1,875, had been sold for tomorrow's concert.

The show would go on without Pavarotti, and the Met does not normally refund tickets if a performer fails to appear."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that the Met just may re-think their refund policy in this case.:)

[dighton]

"If you call in sick, the terrorists have won."

[Orual]

We are not amused.

[dighton]

"Signor Puccini, I see your point. This is not opera buffa."

[Orual]

>

And why the snide remark about opera buffa?

[dighton]

"Baron Scarpia, I'm afraid you look unwell."

[aculeus]

Charles Handelman, of Jackson Heights, Queens, said he was so disappointed after Pavarotti ruined his night at the opera Wednesday that he stormed out in protest.

"I was really looking forward to cheering his entrance and to give him credit for a great career - no matter how he sounded," he said. "Instead, I went all the way into the city for nothing."

Mr Handelman, if you live in Jackson Heights you are already in 'the city'.

[Happygal]

'I wish he'd shut up!'