On the opening night of "Orfeo and Euridice" at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the legendary musician didn't get to save his beloved.
A patron suffered a heart attack in the house left side bay just as the intermission ended; paramedics were called, and worked with doctors who were in the audience for a half-hour before taking their patient to a waiting ambulance, where he later died. His name has not been released.
General director Timothy O'Leary kept the audience apprised of what was happening, but had to announce that the second half had been canceled.
Many in the audience for this performance were out-of-towners, including a contingent of national press.
O'Leary announced that the company would provide replacement tickets for a later performance; the next one is 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 13. For more information, call the box office at 314-961-0644.