SHORT TAKES : Soprano Hurt in Theater Mishap

Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe was slightly injured early Monday when a row of VIP seats collapsed while she was watching a ballet, throwing her and other audience members to the ground.

The temporary seats gave way just as Caballe, Spanish tenor Jose Carreras and the rest of the audience at Merida’s Roman amphitheater began applauding a production of Mstislav Rostropovich’s “Romeo and Juliet,” conducted by the composer.

Caballe and Carreras opened the Merida Festival on Saturday, singing in the Jules Massenet opera “Herodiade.”

Caballe fell more than five feet to the ground but walked away. She suffered minor injuries to her wrist and leg, a regional government spokesman said.

Carreras, who was sitting in the same section, said he managed to avoid falling.