Vittorio Grigolo to be replaced by Charles Castronovo for La traviata on Wednesday 25 January
American tenor to sing role of Alfredo.
Charles Castronovo will replace the unwell Vittorio Grigolo for the performance of La traviata on Wednesday 25 January.
The American tenor sang the role in Richard Eyre’s production with The Royal Opera in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He has also sung the role in Athens, Berlin, San Francisco, Vienna, Philadelphia and the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
Charles will sing alongside Bernarda Bobro, who sings the role of Violetta in place of Ermonela Jaho.
Booked tickets months ago especially to see Jaho & Grigolo, travelled all the way from Devon, and then find not one replacement but both! Thought Bobro did extremely well, and Castonovo was as good as he could be in such circumstances, although it was a great disappointment not to see Grigolo in this role. And then Polunin (who I have become a firm fan of, and I am booked to see in R&J in March) quits! Wednesday 25th Jan must have been one of the ROH's most difficult days!
Compliments to all the cast of La traviata on Wednesday, though, they were excellent.
I have experienced several such last minute replacements. I remember a Barbiere on a Saturday of July a few years ago with Juan Diego Florez withdrawing for this particular day, Simon Keenlyside having withdrawn for the series of performances and Joyce DiDonato bravely performing on a weel chair after having broken an ankle! Like you I did buy my ticket months before, and I had to pay for my plane ticket from Geneva (where I live) and a hotel night in London. Quite an expensive week end!
Hi all!
It is less terrible than in a case with me. I have traveled for 2 days from east Europe (notably from Tbilisi, Georgia) to Los Angeles, California (US) especially for hearing Vittorio Grigolo and Nino Machaidze in Gounod 'Romeo et Juliette'. On Sunday performance Grigolo was replaced by Charles Castronovo. Although, he gave a strong interpretation still I was very disappointed.
With best regards
DG