Opera singer Charles Castronovo saved a performance of La Bohème at the Royal Opera House starring his wife Ekaterina Siurina, when he stepped in mid-show to sing the role of her lover. Siurina was playing the lead role of Mimi, alongside Atalla Ayan as her lover Rodolfo. When a problem with Avan’s voice forced him to stop singing, Castronovo, who had been watching from the audience, stood in and sang the role at the side of the stage, while Ayan acted it.
Audience members, including actor and comedian Stephen Fry, have praised Castronovo for making it a “magical” and “sensationally romantic” evening on July 20. Author Kathy Lette said on Twitter: “Thank god @stephenfry and I wore our waterproof mascara for La Bohème. We blubbed throughout, especially when the tenor’s voice cracked and the soprano’s hubby leapt up out of the audience to take over the role of her lover. Sensationally romantic