Opera is Hot

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In a previous article, some of the hazards of playing in an opera pit were briefly mentioned.

Back in December 2004, a fire alarm scare was a real “show stopper.”

Twenty minutes into Act II of Arizona Opera’s matinee performance of Giaocchino Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) at the Orpheum Theatre, a fire sensor was tripped in the dressing room area.

The alarm stopped the performance and all 1,200 attendees had to evacuate. Cast, audience, chorus, orchestra and stagehands all exited the theatre as the Phoenix Fire Department arrived to investigate.

Some musicians left their instruments, others took instruments with them.

Artistic Director Joel Revzen welcomed the audience back to their seats, saying, “This proves opera really is hot.”

As the curtain opened, tenor Bradley Williams — in the role of The Prince — paused and quipped to Cinderella, “Now, where was I?”

As the cast resumed the performance, lines from the opera took on new meaning, causing the audience to roar with laughter as the chorus sang, “What to do, what to do?” and the prince’s valet sang, “I knew the second act would have some changes.”

The unusual performance concluded without further interruption.

Resources:

• Theater Performance was interrupted by fire alarm