Diva moments

[gettinhep]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 5:21pm

The message board has a thread on divas. It got me thinking about diva behaviour. The most bizarre diva performance I can remember was by Kathleen Battle. She gave a recital in Melbourne a year, or two, ago. It was part of an Australian tour. Her regular accompanist had not arrived for this tour.

The lady who took the stage so bravely in Melbourne was an accomplished musician and regular, and in-demand, accompanist for operetic competition. However, Ms. Battle chose to treat her as a wayward piano student. Battle stopped dead on several occasions to discuss things with the pianist. She would then demand quiet and pose, eyes closed. The performance continued. She then started to tap out the tempo with her foot. Now, there was nothing wrong with the tempo. But, after a while Ms. Battle moved to the piano and started marking time on the side of the piano. Oh no, would they come to blows? The large audience was grateful that Battle's last section was a cappella. The accompanist received a wonderful reception at the bows.

While Battle's ability is undeniable, her behavior during this performance was amazing. A true diva. Anyone else with a similar tale?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 5:35pm

So I used to usher for a local regional theatre..and inbetween musicals, they would host concerts. On a hot August night about 6years ago, whe hosted Peter, Paul and Mary. Well...upon arriving, they decided that the theater was much too warm. The AC was raised but at 10 minutes to showtime, their publicist or whomever decided that it was indeed still too warm and said they would not be going on. Well the staff raced to a local Ames (It's a department store..not sure if they have them outside New England) and bought 6 large fans and placed them all over the stage. After letting them run for over 20 minutes, and 35 minutes after the ticket time, the concert did begin.
This lovely trio also decided last minute that they would enter, holding hands through the audience, BUT if anyone touched them, they would turn around and not perform. I ask you. How do you tell 1800 fans to "Please not touch Peter Paul and Mary?" We all had our fingers crossed and I guess everything was alright. The staff was also told if there are cameras, shows over. Singing along when not asked, shows over. Excess noise or screaming, shows over.
You'd think they would have been more....um.....Peaceful.