Watch: Off-stage singer saves Vienna’s Andrea Chenier at last gasp

The Armernian baritone David Babayants saved Giordano’s opera at the Vienna State Opera last night, rushing over for the third act after Luca Salsi was doubled up with sickness.

Der Standard reports: ‘The curtain had barely risen when Luca Salsi coughed, as if he weren’t valet in  Andrea Chénier, but the consumptive Mimì in La Bohème … At one point, the ailing star baritone, coughing and spluttering heavily, waved his hand resignedly and apologized to the audience: “Oh, sorry!”‘ …

Director Bogdan Roščić announced before the start of the third act that the Armenian David Babayants, currently at the Theater an der Wien, had been recruited as a vocal double. Salsi continued as a now-mute revolutionary in historical costume, while an uncostumed Babayants sang the part from a music stand at the edge of the stage…. It culminated in a truly touching moment: As Babayants began Gérard’s aria ( Nemico della patria ), Salsi pulled him with a friendly grip from the dark corner to the center of the stage. There, the stand-in blossomed, pouring his heart and soul into the final notes. After that, there was no stopping: the audience erupted into a hurricane of cheers that brought tears of emotion to Babayant’s eyes.’

Watch:

Babayants saidlater: ‘First of all, i want to wish with all of my heart fast recovery to one of the greatest baritones of our time, and amazing generous person Luca Salsi !We all human beings, and bad days we have all! But show must go on! So today I jumped as Carlo Gerard in “Andrea Chenier”. I want to thank amazing audience of Wiener Staatsoper for such a support, standing avation, warmth!!!!! And also i want to thanks Maestro Pier Giorgio Morandi, Sonya Yoncheva, Michael Fabiano, all amazing colleagues and stuff of Wiener Staatsoper for for huge support!!!

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