Opera must clean up its act, says star tenor

A ROYAL Opera House tenor has told how he has “resisted” demands to perform sexually violent scenes on stage, as he argues the treatment of women in productions should better reflect the modern world.

Michael Fabiano, star of the opera house’s current production of Rigoletto, said there had been moments when he was asked to “do things with women on stage that were… strong”, but had asked to develop his character instead.

The tenor, who plays the Duke of Mantua in David Mcvicar’s production, admitted he had “issues” with the show, arguing even an opera set 500 years ago can be adapted to suit modern society.

“Mcvicar is one of the great directors of our time and when it was premiered in 2001, his Rigoletto was great,” Fabiano told Whatsonstage, the theatre industry website.

“But in our era now of assault and harassment with respect to women, I think it’s a little in our faces.

“There are instances when I was asked to do things with women on stage that were… strong. I resisted and asked to make the Duke a character who is dark, of course, but also someone who questions his status.”