There is a centuries long tradition of booing at operas, tenors in particular. And laughing at fat sopranos during certain scenes in “La Boheme”.
In Parma a good put down of a singer yelled from the audience would make it into the papers and would make you a household name until the next opera fan fired off the next good one.
It is one of my dreams to spend a month in Italy spending the days eating pasta and the nights attending operas. A week in Parma would be good.
Sounds like a dream vacation.
A tenor at La Scala sang a particularly challenging aria. To his surprise, the audience rose to its feet, stamping, cheering, and shouting ‘bravo!’ Naturally, he repeated the piece. Then, the same response from the audience. So he did it again. Once more, prolonged, thunderous applause.
Finally, he addressed his throng of admirers:
“My beloved fellow music lovers. I am deeply humbled by your warm reception of my efforts here tonight. But please, I must reserve what remains of my energies for the remainder of the performance, which will now proceed. Once again, I stand in awe, and admitted puzzlement, at this tumultuous response!”
A voice was heard to rise from the audience: “You’ll do it again until you get it right!”