Rinat Shaham Keeps Horses Off Stage

The theatre adage "never work with children or animals" has some resonance for opera singer Rinat Shaham. The mezzo soprano has no problem at all with the many children in a production of Bizet's Carmen at the Sydney Opera House, but cannot tolerate horses. Animals, including horses, donkeys and chickens, were a spectacular part of the production when it was first staged here in 2008. But for Israeli-born Shaham, who has made the title role her own in productions from Tel Aviv to New Orleans, the animals have been removed from the production. Between acts at a rehearsal in Sydney yesterday, Shaham was at pains to point out that her aversion to animals is medical, not a diva's demand. [Source]