British tenor saves night at opera: Singer makes history as he steps into stage role after US star falls ill
- Freddie De Tommaso, 28, made history by stepping in at the Royal Opera House
- The young singer came on halfway through opening night of Puccini’s Tosca
- US star tenor Bryan Hymel fell ill, causing need for De Tommaso to step in
A young British opera singer made history when he stepped in to save the day at the Royal Opera House.
Freddie De Tommaso came on halfway through the opening night of Puccini’s Tosca when US star tenor Bryan Hymel fell ill.
It meant the 28-year-old from Kent became the first British tenor to sing the role of Cavaradossi at Covent Garden in almost 60 years – and the youngest ever to take on the role at the historic venue.
De Tommaso, who has an Italian father and British mother, rose to fame when he took home three prizes at the 2018 Vinas singing competition in Barcelona.
Freddie De Tommaso (pictured) came on halfway through the opening night of Puccini’s Tosca when US star tenor Bryan Hymel fell ill
He won rave reviews for Wednesday’s performance in front of the sold-out audience – with one critic saying it was ‘one of those nights when you just had to be there’.
De Tommaso follows previous great tenors such as Placido Domingo who starred as Cavaradossi at the Royal Opera House 40 years ago and Luciano Pavarotti who made his debut as an understudy in La Boheme in 1963.
He was already due to take on the role on Saturday due to concerns over Hymel’s cold and will take the stage in Covent Garden on December 11, 14 and 17.
In April, he released his debut album Passione and became the first solo tenor in 20 years to debut at number one in the classical charts.
De Tommaso only realised he had a great voice after he dropped out of university in his second year and started singing again.
‘I restarted singing lessons with my old teacher from school, who quickly realised that my voice had gone from “fine” to “pretty good, actually”. Despite smoking and drinking for two years,’ he told Edinburgh Music Review.
It meant the 28-year-old from Kent became the first British tenor to sing the role of Cavaradossi at Covent Garden in almost 60 years – and the youngest ever to take on the role at the Royal Opera House (pictured)
He has already achieved his dream of starring as Cavaradossi and he is still very young in the opera industry.
The tenor added: ‘Unfortunately, our industry is peppered with stories of burn outs and stars that shone brightly yet briefly, but I am confident I won’t fall down this particular hole!
‘I am incredibly lucky to have a wonderful support network round me. Amongst all these people, I feel terribly secure and well-advised.’
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