Gheorghiu fired from Chicago

Just three days before the Chicago premiere of Puccini's La Boheme, Angela Gheorghiu was let go by the Lyric Opera.
Said general director William Mason, "Miss Gheorghiu has missed six of 10 rehearsals, including the piano dress rehearsal and both staging rehearsals with the orchestra," Mason said. "She missed one of the most critical stage-orchestra rehearsals when she left the city for New York without permission, a direct violation of her contract."
"It is with tremendous regret and sadness that we are compelled to take this action," he added, "but Miss Gheorghiu's actions have shown total disregard for Lyric Opera's dedicated personnel and for her fellow artists."
The complete story is reported by the Chicago Tribune here and by AP here.
How disappointed one of her biggest fans must be...