Tenor Salvatore Licitra in the Met's Tosca.
Photo by Marty Sohl © 2002 The Metropolitan Opera.
Singer Wrecks Vespa in Sicily.
Tenor Salvatore Licitra has suffered a motorcycle accident, sources on Twitter reported.
The Italian tenor is in a fight for his life after an accident riding his Vespa in Modica located in Ragusa, Sicily. He has been brought to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries.
A native of Bern, Switzerland, Mr. Licitra fell into opera singing after a brief career as a graphic designer. A student at Carlo Bergonzi's voice academy in Bussetto, Italy, he made his debut there in 1998 in Un Ballo en Maschera. Later, he was hired by Riccardo Muti for a production of La Forza del Destino at La Scala and his rise to fame was complete.
Mr. Licitra became a sensation in New York when he substituted for Luciano Pavarotti in a 2002 performance of Tosca. Mr. Pavarotti had cancelled his appearance two hours before curtain. The charismatic tenor made a strong impression as Mario Cavaradossi, and the press started referring to him as a logical heir to Mr. Pavarotti's crown.
Since then, Mr. Licitra has made a specialty of Verdi heroes at the house, singing Radames in Aida, Don Alvaro in La Forza del Destino, and King Gustavo in Un Ballo in Maschera. Armed with a sturdy instrument and dynamic stage presence, the singer also appeared in new productions of Puccini's Il Trittico and Tosca.
Earlier this year, Mr. Licitra was booked to sing the title role in the company's revival of Ernani next February. He pulled out of those performances in July. This is the third high-profile cancellation at the Met in 2011.
We wish Mr. Licitra a speedy recovery from his accident and hope to see him singing again soon.