Operatic Weirdness

At the Music Center “opera” March 4 I saw an astonishing spectacle. Chris Merritt, Argirio in “Tancredi,” had laryngitis. In most of the civilized music world, one might have thought he would be replaced by an understudy. In L.A. opera I’ve come to expect the unexpected but I still was not prepared for what happened.

Merritt was “semi-replaced.” While a stand-in sang, Merritt lip-synced the words! (He croaked his way through the recitatives.)

Stand-in Stephen Gould sang from one end of the stage as he read the score. For one duet, he joined Marilyn Horne on stage, where we were treated to the spectacle of a man in a 20th-Century business suit singing alongside Tancredi, decked out for the Crusades.

The audience loved it . . . applause and “Bravos!” all around.

At least one group of “opera” lovers seemed to have got what they wanted, or at least what they deserved. I think someone else deserves my seats next season.

WILLIAM STOCKMANN

Sherman Oaks

Gould was the understudy for the role in Chicago, where this co-production opened. Gould was in costume for the final performance, March 6.