While it wasn’t exactly a case of ‘A Star is Born’, 21-year-old Claudio Coviello was certainly given a golden opportunity when Ivan Vasiliev couldn’t go on at La Scala last night.
Coviello had learnt the role of Quasimodo in Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris for just a single matinée performance. The evening spots were taken by Roberto Bolle, Massimo Murru and Ivan Vasiliev. Except for Murru this was début time for everybody.
Vasiliev, made-up and ready to take on the role for the first time, as well as making his first appearance at Milan’s famed opera house, was limbering up on stage half an hour before the curtain. Landing after a jump he felt pain in his back, and after quick consultations with specialists, it was decided that he couldn’t go on. Coviello, who had danced his unique scheduled performance that afternoon, and was hanging around to see Vasiliev in the role, was hurriedly ushered into make-up to prepare in the 25 minutes remaining before the start.
There can’t be a worse feeling than hearing an audience cry out in disappointment when your name is read out as the star’s substitute, and the courage to go on and prove that the ticket was still worth the price is a talent in itself.… [continue reading]
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