When I reported last night about Villars' "strange vocal problems" in the
role of Calaf, at the SFO season-opening "Turandot," I had no idea about
the following, which I just received from a member of the audience, *not*
the Opera, which made no announcement, gave out no information before or
after the performance.

   At the Turandot opening, I wish they had announced (but I can
   understand why they did not) that Mr. Villars was under the weather
   - he had gotten food poisoning earlier that day, and had been throwing
   up backstage and was generally feeling weak.  And, of course, throwing
   up does bring acid across the vocal cords, doing them no good.

   That was why he was so inconsistent.

   BTW, THANK YOU!!!  for your comment about importing singers for minor
   roles when we have perfectly wonderful singers available locally!!

Janos Gereben/SF