Music

Royal Opera House drops Vittorio Grigolo over 'inappropriate behaviour' on tour


The world-famous opera said the famed Italian tenor fell ‘below the standard’

Thursday, 5th December 2019, 11:02 pm

Updated Thursday, 5th December 2019, 11:07 pm
Vittorio Grigolo has been dropped from two renowned opera houses (Photo: AFP/Getty)

Two of the world’s most famous opera companies have dropped renowned tenor Vittorio Grigolo over “inappropriate and aggressive behaviour” on tour.

The Royal Opera House and New York’s Metropolitan Opera said the decision follows an incident “at a curtain call and after” a performance of Faust in Japan.

The Italian singer, a regular on the opera circuit over the past decade, was due to star in the Met’s current season of Lucia Di Lammermoor and at ROH next summer.

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He was initially suspended by ROH after the Tokyo affair.

‘Behaviour below bar’

But the London venue said: “Following an independent investigation into an incident involving Vittorio Grigolo in Tokyo in September, the ROH has concluded that his inappropriate and aggressive behaviour at a curtain call and afterwards fell below the standards we expect of our staff and performers.

“We have therefore concluded that he will not return to perform in Lucia Di Lammermoor at the Royal Opera House in 2020. We will announce new casting for this role in due course.”

In a statement on Instagram, Mr Grigolo apologised, saying he was “truly saddened” and that “the situation deteriorated unexpectedly due to a brawl between colleagues”.

‘Very exuberant’

He said his personality could be “very exuberant at times” and that it “has deeply affected me and all of my loved ones and has allowed me to learn a precious life lessons [sic]”.

Mr Grigolo added: “I’m truly saddened that my behaviour towards everyone in the cast, people whom I have always respected and continue to respect from the bottom of my heart, was perceived to be below Royal Opera House standards.”

The singer, tipped by The New York Times as “perhaps the most dependably exciting singer in opera”, performed alongside Sir Bryn Terfel in Tosca at ROH earlier this year.

The Metropolitan Opera said: “Following the Royal Opera House investigation into misconduct concerning Vittorio Grigolo and his subsequent suspension from performances there this season, the Metropolitan Opera confirms that he will not be singing at the Met this season.”



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