We only actually went to the Dress Rehearsal as an excuse on which to hang some singer-stalking*. We had noticed nearly a month ago the sign in the window at the ROH Shop declaring that the lovely Rolando Villazón would be signing after the Dress Rehearsal. So, despite not having tickets, we queued at the Box Office and we got lucky. Well, if you call Row W of the Amphitheatre lucky. But I'm not complaining, not at £4.
At half nine we found ourselves with nothing to do but wait an hour-and-a-half for curtain up. The Stage Door beckoned. We established that neither of Messrs Hvorostovsky and Villazón had arrived, so we waited, joined only by one other fan. We did not have to wait very long until Rolando arrived. As he crossed Floral Street, I swear I did not recognise him. I've seen him in Contes d'Hoffmann and Rigoletto, and have seen numerous photos of him but he looks really quite different in the flesh. He was a real sweetie as he signed his autograph for the other woman - she had a broadsheet copy of the poster for Daz Konzert des Jahres!.
Then we asked him to pose for photos and we had a chat, nothing heavy, just good luck, that sort of thing. Me being total fan grrrl simpering "It's lovely to meet you..."
He came back a moment or two later explaining that he had forgotten his tequila. For a moment I believed him, for, though I am trained and paid to be sceptical, I become very gullible when starstruck. He picked up a water bottle he had left on a ledge.
I suggested it was time for breakfast but Faye insisted on waiting for Dima. He was not overly gushing, but I also appreciate that many singers do not like being bothered on the way in before a performance, and many theatre people don't do mornings, so we were taking a bit of a liberty hanging around. Nevertheless, he signed Faye's score and was gracious enough to pause for photos.
After the Dress Rehearsal we joined the queue outside the ROH shop and got to meet Rolando all over again. I forgot to take any photos, but Faye did. He signed her score, and I was kicking myself for not bringing along any one of the CDs I have of his. So I told him that I have all his CDs - which I've just realised isn't strictly true, although I have all three recital CDs plus Tristan und Isolde where he is luxury-cast as the sailor - but they're on my mp3 player. I also said that I have seen him in everything he's done at ROH, except La Boheme, where I did try to get tickets. He pointed out that he hadn't been scheduled to sing in La Boheme. I might just as well have said "Rolando, I'm a fan grrl"..! I asked him to sign my Dress Rehearsal ticket and he asked me to whom he should sign it. He is so nice...!
Faye took pictures.
Afterwards, we ended up walking all round the Royal Opera house, trying to decide where to go for a drink. As we walked past the front, I spotted the poster of Rolando outside, the same one that has been used as an advert on the Tube but doesn't appear to be anywhere on the internet. I was about to start drooling over it when Faye spotted Dmitri coming out of one of the exits from the ROH (not the Stage Door). She reckons he spotted us before we spotted him and probably thinks we're lunatic stalkers.
I realised that he was strolling down the street so I suggested we followed him. Faye insisted that this would be discretely and at a distance - I wouldn't have had it any other way. For some silly reason, the idea of surreptitiously following an aloof Russian through the streets of London had a crazy appeal. We saw that he had gone into Cafe Rouge, and I suggested that we did, too, although frankly, it's a bit 'low rent' ;-). Faye absolutely refused and I have to reassure you that if by any chance she had agreed my immediate reaction would have been absolutely not. Although as Carla pointed out, there would have been a certain believability about us 'coincidentally' ending up in Cafe Rouge, whereas a proper restaurant would have definitely have looked like stalking.However, we agreed that it would be against all of our principles, and dignity, to do so.
Perhaps we should get little cards printed up to hand to our singers saying "You have been Sossled" so that they know we're not mad deranged stalking types.
* I'm joking, you understand...
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