The orchestra of the emblematic Italian operatic arena refused to get up in protest at the “terrible” show offered by the tenor
Plácido Domingo has problems piling up. After being splashed two weeks ago for his closeness to members of a criminal group accused of human trafficking in Argentina, the Spanish tenor has been showered with criticism for his recent performances at the Verona Arena (Italy), where he offered two shows on August 25 and 26, which constituted “one of the most humiliating evenings for the entire artistic sector.” The assessment is from the union that represents the musicians and technicians of the Veronese arena, who refused to get up when last Friday’s performance, directed by the Spanish artist, concluded as a gesture of protest against the “terrible” image offered to the spectators by a Sunday “that did not live up to its fame.” This newspaper tried to contact the tenor through his representatives to obtain his version of what happened, but received no response.
Although the 81-year-old singer from Madrid was greeted with bouquets of flowers and applause upon his arrival at the Roman amphitheater in this city in northeastern Italy, the aftertaste left by his shows was very different. The local media called them a “failure” and highlighted that at times he forgot the repertoire and that a problem with his voice forced him to leave the scene before the end. The musicians of the orchestra and the members of the choir went further in their criticism, calling the performances a “total debacle”, according to the statement made public by the Verona Cgil union.
Already from the rehearsals the members of the local staff perceived that the Spanish tenor was not at his best. “The result was terrible and only the professionalism of the artists and technicians allowed the event not to end in a gigantic failure,” can be read in the note of the workers, who claim to have felt “abandoned on more than one occasion” by Domingo during Friday’s performance of ‘Turandot’, Puccini’s complex opera. “We deserve to be directed by more suitable professionals to be able to demonstrate our quality. The public also deserves more, which runs the risk of getting used to mediocrity.
Galas and feminists
The protests may jeopardize the return of the Spanish tenor to the emblematic Verona Arena, in whose recitals he has been participating for half a century and who already has a gala scheduled for next year with him as the protagonist. The criticism of the union is joined by those of the city’s feminist associations, which considered “incomprehensible and grotesque” the decision to continue counting on Domingo by the Fondazione Arena, which organizes the shows.
The feminists asked the mayor of the city, the ex-soccer player Damiano Tommasi, who in his position acts as president of the lyrical entity, to no longer count on the Spanish tenor, who three years ago faced complaints from several women for sexual harassment throughout several decades. An investigation considered the accusations “credible” and Domingo himself apologized for the pain caused. That situation led to his resignation as general director of the Los Angeles Opera in 2019.
#Placido #Domingos #total #debacle #Verona