By BERNARD HOLLAND [NY Times, 29 January 2007]
The traveling sideshow of ìPagliacciî added a strongman act to its clowns, acrobats and derailed theatrical entertainments on Friday night. Salvatore Licitra was scheduled to sing Leoncavalloís Canio at the Metropolitan Opera, while Frank Porretta would be Mascagniís Turiddu in ìCavalleria Rusticana.î On Thursday Mr. Porretta reported in sick. Rather than let a cover singer be called for, Mr. Licitra said he would sing both operas.