Tenor Facebook War Averted
By: Frank Cadenhead. This is (mostly) a Google translation of an item from the French site Forum Opera:
After declaring in 2015 that he would not go back on the stage of the Orange Theater, Roberto Alagna announces he will give up Otello on July 12 and 15, 2020 in Munich to make his return next summer to the Chorégies d’Orange alongside Anita Rachvelishvili in Samson and Dalila. He will be replaced in Munich by Gregory Kunde. The story would stop there but the Bayerische Staastoper issued a statement informing the spectators already holding tickets for these two dates that they could change them at their convenience. The gesture, if it is commercial, is not only unusual but above all offensive to the alternative singer. On his Facebook page, Gregory Kunde shared his surprise at the inelegance of the process, causing a pile of indignant comments that he did not take the time to moderate. Some of these comments put the two tenors in the balance to affirm the American’s superiority over the French, in pithy words customary of social networks. Reading them, Roberto Alagna, offended, posted a critique of his colleague for not having suppressed insulting remarks: “You let your best friends target me and rant on your Facebook page. On mine, I never let my fans and friends slander or even criticize other singers. Offensive comments about my colleagues are systematically removed because I respect them. You seem to do exactly the opposite. [….] You complain about Munich, well, why don’t you have the … to cancel? “. The quarrel could have festered if Gregory Kunde hadn’t immediately waved the white flag on Facebook: “I have to comment on an article I hastily published last night (which I have since deleted) about of the situation in Munich. Roberto Alagna is my friend and colleague. The message did not concern him, but denounced the way in which the news was announced. I read some of your comments and although I appreciate your support, I cannot accept the degrading and derogatory comments about another colleague. That’s why I deleted the original message. Do not forget this when you post on my page … Almost ALL the tenors who sing today are my friends. We are not rivals … We are colleagues. I sincerely apologize to Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna for the unfortunate responses to this article. You’re a great singer, Robby. And I’m proud to know you, you and Alex.” Phew! The war will not take place.