Malakai M Bayoh received a standing ovation as he finished
(Picture: Marc Brenner)A concert goer has been banned from the Royal Opera House for life after heckling a 12-year-old singer.
The audience member shouted “rubbish” at west London schoolboy Malakai M Bayoh as he sang in a production of Hansel’s opera Alcina.
Other members of the audience shushed the heckler who left soon afterwards and gave Bayoh an ovation as he finished.
A statement from the Covent Garden institution said: “Unfortunately, the opening night of Alcina featured an audience member who disrupted the show and the excellent performance by young singer Malakai M Bayoh.
Malakai taking his bow this evening at the Royal Opera House. #rohalcina pic.twitter.com/F4L51TFeNY
— Cardinal Vaughan Music (@CVMSMusic) November 8, 2022
“We are appalled that a member of the audience behaved in this way and steps have been taken to ensure the audience member in question does not return to the Royal Opera House.”
Journalist Josh Spero, who was in the audience on Tuesday, said it was the “nastiest thing”.
He said: “Who would do that to a child?
“Once the boy was done, the audience responded with wild applause and cheering.”
