Russian diva, Vienna opera split
Olga Borodina will no longer be singing at the Vienna State Opera, according to a statement by the company.
The Russian diva, who has graced La Scala, Covent Garden, the Met, the Salzburg Festival and other famed operatic stages, was to make her Vienna State Opera debut this month as Isabella in Rossini’s “L’Italiana in Algeria” (“The Italian in Algiers”) -- one of her signature roles. But Agnes Baltsa is now singing the part.
No one has officially spoken out about what happened, beyond a brief statement from the State Opera saying that the relationship was ended by “mutual consent.” One Austrian news report said the temperamental mezzo stormed out of a rehearsal complaining things were taking too long. Others say there were differences between her and opera staff about staging and other issues.
*
FINALLY
Summer squash: The first victim of the summer TV schedule is CBS’ “Tuesday Night Book Club.” The reality series was pulled from the schedule after two low-rated episodes.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
