Angela Gheorghiu Gets FIRED and more other news

Let's do the "other news first."
It has been announced that, to many people's dismay, Isabel Bayrakdarian has taken (ahem) a 9 month hiatus. Her replacement will be soprano Lisette Oropesa who will sing Susanna at the premiere of Le Nozze di Figaro and at least one other performance. Ms. Oropesa is a member of the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Very impressive. Maybe I'll see her then? If I'm not seeing her, then I might be seeing Ekaterina Siurina or our lovable TBA in the role of Susanna.

ANGELA GHEORGIU HAS BEEN FIRED FROM THE CHICAO LYRIC OPERA. Ms. Gheorghiu was fired from the production of La Boheme because she "missed 6 out of 10 rehearsals, including a piano dress rehearsal and both staging rehearsals with the orchestra." She apparently also missed a critical stage-orchestra rehearsal. Ms. Gheorghiu also violated her contract when she left unanounced to go to New York. Oh, and one more thing, La Gheorghiu was spotted at the premiere of Gounod's Romeo et Jiuliette at the Met. And who was staring as the leading man that night? None other than her husband, Roberto Alagna. Coincidence? I would think not. =O Scandaloussssss