Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu faces backlash after interrupting 'Tosca' in Seoul
Renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu, left, speaks during a press conference for Puccini's opera "Tosca" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Aug. 30. Yonhap
By Park Jin-hai
Opera star takes issue with co-star's mid-show encore
Renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu caused a stir during a performance of Puccini's "Tosca" in Seoul, halting the orchestra and interrupting her co-star's mid-show encore, much to the dismay of opera enthusiasts who had eagerly anticipated her performance.
The incident occurred during Sunday's performance at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, when Gheorghiu, regarded as one of the greatest opera singers of all time, abruptly took to the stage midway through the third act, as Korean tenor Alfred Kim was performing an encore of the famous aria “E lucevan le stelle” in response to the audience's enthusiastic applause and requests for more.
The Romanian soprano signaled for the orchestra to stop and although conductor Jee Joong-bae initially tried to continue, he eventually halted the music in response to Gheorghiu's persistent gestures. The soprano then said, "Excuse me. It’s a performance. It’s not a recital. Respect me."
After the disruption, the opera continued, but the 59-year-old soprano did not appear for the final curtain call. When bass-baritone Samuel Youn eventually escorted her onto the stage, the audience responded with boos. She briefly walked halfway to the center of the stage, then turned and left, leaving the crowd bewildered.
Her action immediately led to significant backlash from the audience. Opera fans who came for the much-anticipated performance of the diva expressed disappointment, condemning her interruption as disrespectful to Korean audiences. Some furious patrons even demanded refunds. Comments on social media echoed these sentiments, with one user writing, "Gheorghiu's arrogant attitude was infuriating," and another calling it "a complete disaster."
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu, left, performs Puccini's opera "Tosca" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
The performance was organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Puccini's death running from Thursday to Sunday. Gheorghiu starred in the titular role in both the opening and finale.
The opera's organizers, the Seoul Metropolitan Opera and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, issued a statement Sunday night, calling for an official apology from the singer, labeling the incident as "unprecedented."
"We haven't heard any further statements or explanations from her about this incident. We have officially filed a complaint with her management company and have formally requested an apology from Gheorghiu. We are currently awaiting her response and will determine our next steps based on her reply," said an official from the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The center also issued a public apology to the audience for the disruption.
"We've never encountered a situation like this before, so we're looking into precedents in other countries. We're in the process of researching these cases to inform our response. Nevertheless, due to yesterday's incident, we have already requested an apology," the official added.
Operas are inherently narrative-driven, with arias typically sung as integral parts of the storyline. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for audiences to call for encores of particularly beloved or challenging arias even during a performance with a thunderous applause. Gheorghiu took issue with this customary practice during her performance.
This is not the first time Gheorghiu has been at the center of controversy. Known for her strong personality, she has a history of unprofessional behavior on stage. In 2016, she refused to continue a performance of "Tosca" in Vienna after tenor Jonas Kaufmann performed an encore mid-show, delaying the production and forcing Kaufmann to apologize to the audience.