Conductor fills in for ailing opera singer

Conductor fills in for ailing opera singer

PITTSBURGH — Desperate artistic times called for desperate artistic measures. So when the tenor got sick, the conductor stepped in to save the performance of “Aida.” Pittsburgh Opera musical director Antony Walker sang into a microphone from the pit while still conducting the orchestra as ailing tenor Vladimir Kusmenko lip-synched on stage during Tuesday night’s final act. Walker, a trained vocalist, often sings during rehearsals. “I have sung every note of ‘Aida.’ I do that with every opera I prepare,” Walker said. “I find you can empathize with the singers better.”

Kusmenko told Artistic Director Christopher Hahn that he was ill the afternoon before the performance so Hahn arranged for a substitute tenor, Eduardo Villa of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, to replace him as Radames in the Verdi opera. Villa was scheduled to arrive halfway through the performance, because Kusmenko’s doctor felt he could begin the performance. But when Villa’s flight was delayed, Walker was pressed into double duty.

Federline spending spree

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Federline might play the part of the pauper to his pop princess ex-wife Britney Spears, but in Las Vegas he is king. Federline spent over $43,000 on Las Vegas hotels, dining and shopping between May 2007 and January of this year, according to documents filed by Federline’s attorney in his custody battle with Spears.

The tabs included $1,445 for clothing at Gianni Versace, $3,863 at TAO nightclub, and $3,008 at the Hard Rock Beach Club. He appears determined not to be branded a cheap tipper. At Scores strip club, he dropped a cool $2,000 on a $365 meal bill. Spears pays her ex-husband $15,000 per month in child support for 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Michael Moriarty (“Law and Order”) is 67. Singer Agnetha Faltskog of Abba is 58. Guitarist Mike McCready of Pearl Jam is 42. Country singer Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry is 41. Singer Paula Cole is 40. Rapper-producer Pharrell Williams is 35.