Soprano Angela Gheorghiu speaks during a press conference for Puccini's opera "Tosca" at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, Aug. 30. Yonhap
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu has responded to the controversy surrounding her disruption of Puccini's "Tosca" in Seoul, Sunday, noting that her actions stemmed from a pre-arranged agreement barring encores. However, the event organizer refuted Gheorghiu's claims, stating that no such formal agreement was made and that her disruption infringed on the audience's right to enjoy the performance.
Gheorghiu's management, Intermusica, released a statement Wednesday, explaining that the soprano had objected to the encore of Korean tenor Alfred Kim's aria, “E lucevan le stelle,” during the third act, citing a pre-performance agreement that no encores would be permitted.
“Ms. Gheorghiu deeply regrets the circumstances which led to the incident at Sejong Arts Center on Sunday,” the agency said in the statement. “It was agreed and confirmed with the conductor and the production team of 'Tosca' in advance that there would be no encores made by any of the performers. Ms. Gheorghiu believes firmly that encores outside of a concert-performance setting disrupt the narrative flow of opera.”
According to the statement, Gheorghiu had already declined an earlier request to perform an encore of her aria, “Vissi d'arte,” in the second act from conductor Jee Joong-bae, due to her desire to maintain the opera's integrity.
"Regrettably, this decision was not honored in the case of the tenor's Act three aria, which Ms. Gheorghiu perceived as a personal affront, given her strong convictions on this matter," the statement read.
Despite the controversy, Gheorghiu conveyed her respect for the Korean audience, with whom she has had a long-standing relationship.
In response, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, which organized the opera with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, clarified that while Gheorghiu expressed her desire for no encores, this did not constitute a binding agreement.
“The soprano conveyed her wish, through her manager, that there be no encores for any of the performers, including herself. However, this cannot be considered a formal agreement,” an official of the theater told The Korea Times, Thursday, noting that the soprano had no authority to dictate whether other performers could offer encores.
The center also explained that encores are often determined live, based on the audience's enthusiasm as well as the “communion” between the conductor, performer and audience.
“The encore was decided and carried out in response to the overwhelming applause and support from the audience after the tenor's aria. This decision lies with the conductor and is not determined solely by one singer's preference,” the official said.
The organizer also touched on a central issue of the controversy — Gheorghiu's interruption of the opera during the third act.
“The essence of this matter is not whether there was an encore, but the fact that Gheorghiu disrupted the performance, severely undermining the audience's right to enjoy the show.”
They added that while Gheorghiu was within her rights to disagree with the encore decision, there were other ways to express her objections without halting the performance.
“If the soprano felt the need to protest the disregard of her philosophy and opinion regarding encores, there were sufficient alternative methods other than disrupting the performance. It is highly regrettable that this situation unfolded the way it did," the official said.
During Sunday's performance of "Tosca," Gheorghiu interrupted the third act by stepping onto the stage while her co-star, Kim, was performing an encore and protested the encore to conductor Jee. Additionally, during the curtain call, Gheorghiu quickly exited the stage without offering a proper bow.