Stand clear of the closing doors

The next time you roll your eyes at an operatic plot complication involving mistaken identity, just consider this: Mirella Freni‘s cancellation of her gala peformance of Fedora at the Washington National Opera last month was apparently due to a bungled phone message. According to a WNO insider, La Freni telephoned the company’s main office to inquire when to expect the car that would take her to a costume fitting. Whoever answered didn’t recognize Freni’s voice (or, apparently, her name) and advised the diva that she shouldn’t be taking a car anyway, given that her hotel was right near a Metro stop. The offended soprano (perhaps muttering “e troppo! e troppo!”) then canceled her contract.