The understudy was dressed a little casually for the occasion, but good work by him nonetheless.

Yay for the plucky understudy!

If you listen closely you can hear Alagna going sharp by nearly half a step.

And for those of you paying attention, Palombi was NOT the lead cover, he was the third in line. On hearing Alagna wack his piece, Palombi figured on Alagna walking off and dashed to the stage to take his place. Poor form to take another chap's place in line, but fortune favors the bold, I suppose.

http://operachic.typepad.com/opera_chic/2006/12/palombi_we_saw_.html#comments

Yep, grew up with opera loving Italians-Ruthless, purist, and you better not make this man's big mistake in Palermo on Don Giardia's made-men appreciation night, either!-

....be singin' arias' with the Polopo!

Thanks, rembar!

That fact alone makes this clip ten times better. I wish there was a better close-up of Alagna shaking his fist at the audience.

I hope that story is true that the lead cover WAS in costume. I would like to think that he was farting around in the make-up room with the costume ladies.

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