ArtsWatch

After so many cancellations from singers, Tristan at the Met may or may not be "cursed" (to use manager Peter Gelb's pleasantly 19th-century and rather operatic adjective). But Verdi's Ernani might have different associations for Angela Meade, left, whose performance drew some pretty splendid critical reaction Friday night when she stepped in for Sondra Radvanovsky at the last minute. The 30-year-old soprano - who is a student at the Academy of Vocal Arts and on the roster of Astral Artistic Services - said she was "a little nervous for the first 15 minutes" on stage. It apparently wasn't obvious. She "showed a vibrant voice with nice color and an assured technique," wrote AP critic Ronald Blum. "She sang like an old pro from start to finish, combining for moving duets with Marcello Giordani (Ernani) — she happens to share the same voice teacher as Giordani, Bill Schuman."