On March 18, the Teatro San Carlo experienced the unexpected at the third performance of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.”

According to the Italian publication Connessi all’Opera, during the only intermission, the company announced that soprano Rosa Feola fell ill and was trying to recover. After a prolonged intermission, the company said that the show would go on and conductor Francesco Lanzillotta reappeared at the podium with the orchestra. However, the conductor suddenly disappeared and another announcement was made that soprano Feola would not continue the performance.

Since the company had no cover, there was no other choice but to eliminate the mad scene from the third act. Some of the audience members left the auditorium while others jeered in protest due to the lack of a cover.

Rosa Feola took to instagram to apologize and stated she had an “allergic shock that forced her to cancel.”

The performance went on with Alexander Köpecki as Raimondo, Mattia Olivieri as Enrico, and René Barbera as Edgardo.

The practice of not having a cover is common in major European houses and over the past few weeks, this choice has led to high-profile debacles.  In January, the Royal Opera House was forced to eliminate “Nessun Dorma” from a performance of “Turandot” after tenor Roberto Alagna withdrew unexpectedly from the performance. As was the case in Napoli, the audience responded by booing the decision. Earlier this month, soprano Anna Netrebko canceled a performance of “Nabucco” at the Wiener Staatsoper and the company, which had no cover, was forced to call in a soprano on a few hours notice. Things did not go well and audience response was savage.

The next performance of “Lucia di Lammermoor” will be on March 21 with Rosa Feola expected to return.

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• Following Anna Netrebko’s Cancelation, Boos Erupt at Wiener Staatsoper’s Replacement Soprano
• Boos Erupt at Royal Opera & Ballet’s ‘Turandot’ After Tenor Cancels Third Act & ‘Nessun Dorma’ is Omitted