OK, so maybe not that Rossini.
All the same, in an age when classical musicians are diva-ing out over cell phones in the concert hall, leave it to Classicalite's favorite mezzo to remain all class.
We shouldn't be too surprised, of course. Even though Joyce DiDonato isn't slated to sing for new boss Alexander Pereira's truncated 2013-2014 season at La Scala--in fact, she's not been on the Milanese stage since Rossini's La donna del Lago a few seasons back--the Praire Village, Kansas native would never forget her manners.
Case in point: Sunday night's second half began with DiDonato offering a scene from Rossini's Otello. And just a she was coming to the end of Desdemona's prayer (a whimper of an ending, as opposed to a bang, for sure), wouldn't ya know it...a freakin' cell phone went off.
"Loud and clear from the stalls, with one of those annoying retro ringtones," is how Gramilano described the sound.
As DiDonato was leaving the stage during her much deserved applause--curiously mixed with cries of vergogna or "shame" for the ringtone, not her Rossini--one La Scala attendee belted out to the crowd, in translation, "If you go home to telephone it would be better."
Naturally, this remark was met with even more applause.
Sensing the uneasiness of the situation, upon returning from the wings, the American singer quickly diffused the situation--as only she could, really. Asking if it was Rossini calling to check in on her Desdemona, DiDonato added, in Italian:
They say that this theater is full of ghosts. Grazie, Gioachino!
Further proving that Joyce DiDonato is one of the classiest: Her first encore was dedicated to the memory of Italian conductor Bruno Bartoletti, who died on June 8. Tuesday would have been his 87th birthday; instead, today is Bartoletti's day of burial.
