Conductor Carlo Rizzi stops Cardiff performance of Verdi opera over ‘phone miscreants’

Mobile phones at live performances are a constant source of ire for artists

The Welsh Millenium Centre, Cardiff (Rex)

A conductor received applause after stopping an opera twice due to interuptions from mobile phones.

Carlo Rizzi was conducting a new production of Verdi's Les Vêpres Sicilienes for the Welsh National Opera at Cardiff's Donald Gordon Theatre, the BBC reports.

He reportedly stopped twice and spoke to the audience about the distraction that phones ringing caused.

BBC employee David Jackson said: “I spoke to Carlo afterwards and congratulated him on the performance, but also on tackling the phone miscreants.

“He got a warm round of applause after he stopped and ticked off the audience member. Both incidents were right at the beginning of the show and all was well after that.”

Phones are a constant source of ire for artists performing onstage, whether at concerts or at the theatre.

Actors including Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Benedict Cumberbatch, Patti LuPone and the late Richard Griffiths have all reacted badly to phone-addicted audience members.

Craig and Jackman managed to shame one audience member while staying in character, as did LuPone when she spotted someone texting during a rendition of Shows for Days in 2015.

WNO confirmed there were “short pauses” and that Rizzi addressed the audience following the second interruption.