Just Like Riding A Bike

April 7, 2008 • Quotidian • 0 • Previous | Next

A bit late to this party but here’s the news anyway for those that aren’t linked up with the rest of the classical blog world.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Desperate times led to a remarkable solution in Verdi’s “Aida” at the Benedum Center last week: The conductor stepped in to sing for an ailing tenor.

In a rare occurrence indeed in the opera world, Mr. Walker conducted and sang the role of Radames in the final act of the opera while the tenor acted the role on stage.

“I trained as a singer for seven years and sometimes it comes in handy,” Mr. Walker said after the performance.

Tenor Vladimir Kuzmenko, cast as Radames, came down with the same bug that has sidelined mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe. Pittsburgh Opera management decided to fly in a tenor to sing the role if Mr. Kuzmenko couldn’t make it through the performance. But Eduardo Villa’s flight was delayed and Mr. Kuzmenko lost his voice by the end of the third of four acts.

“Act 4 is light and lyrical; It was feasible;” said Mr. Walker, who already had been steeling himself for the possibility. “It was the only way we could continue the opera.”

“The show must go on,” said Mr. Walker, who said he did enjoy the challenge. “The audience was so appreciative of everything that went on and supportive of us trying to do it.”