ENO understudy steps out of shadows

An English National Opera understudy became the star of the show on Saturday night - despite giving his performance from the wings. Bass-baritone Paul Whelan found himself singing the lead part of Raimondo in the opening night performance of Lucia di Lammermoor offstage, when bass Clive Bayley lost his voice after the first scene and had to mime the rest of the opera.

Whelan had started his evening watching the performance from a seat in the London Coliseum with a group of friends. After Bayley's voice succumbed to a chest infection, Whelan was hurriedly ushered backstage. However, he was not quick enough to change into costume and had to sing from the side of the stage, while Bayley stayed in costume to mime for the next two hours.

Together the pair created a theatrical tour de force that was greeted with rapturous applause at the curtain call. Despite looking out of place - dressed in a Joseph Aboud designer suit alongside his fellow performers in 19th-century costumes - Whelan received one of the biggest cheers from the sell-out audience. (Continued below)

"It was an extraordinary experience… I'm just so glad I was wearing my Armani tie," Whelan confided to the Daily Telegraph, whose critic Rupert Christiansen described the production as "enthralling", noting that Whelan "sang with aplomb".

Ironically it was Anna Christy, in the title role of Lucia, who had earlier given cause for concern. She was struck down with bronchitis last week, and it looked unlikely that she would be able to fulfill the hugely demanding role on the opening night. The ENO had her understudy waiting in the wings - but the American soprano gave a faultless performance.