Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato broke her leg on stage Virgin Records

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GENERATIONS of actors have been told to break a leg before going on stage, but nobody expects it to happen mid-performance, still less for the show to go on.

However one leading lady will take to the stage in a wheelchair tonight, determined not to let her fans down after breaking her calf bone during last Saturday’s performance of The Barber of Seville at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House.

Joyce DiDonato, playing Rosina, fell awkwardly early in Act 1 as she walked to the edge of the stage and tripped.

In true theatre fashion, she limped on, reappearing with a walking stick, then being held upright by co-actor Juan Diego Florez as he tackled a tricky aria.

At the interval an official announced that the mezzo-soprano had sprained her ankle but would continue and her performance was deemed worthy of a standing ovation after almost three hours standing on the broken bone.

The American diva finally discovered she had fractured her calf bone when she was taken to hospital. “From here on out, I declare that no-one (please!) ever ever ever wish me again, in the American fashion, to BREAK A LEG,” Di Donato wrote on her blog after spending four hours in hospital.

The Barber of Seville , until 18 July, Royal Opera House, 45 Floral Street, WC2E 9DD

“I understand the good intention, but from here on out, wish me ‘in the mouth of the wolf’ instead, ok? That’s far less likely to actually happen – although with my luck you never know!”

DiDonato may need that Italian expression for good luck, as doctors do not know whether she has caused permanent damage by continuing with Saturday’s show.

They have said it will take six weeks for the bone to heal, but the singer has promised to return on stage tonight, writing: “There is no rule that says Rosina might not have been suffering from a broken ankle, right? It could happen.

“I want to do all I can to really play this part with this astonishing cast (of singers), with these astonishing musicians, and for this unbelievable public! I would hate it if I ruined anyone's outing to the theatre.”

Di Donato is scheduled to perform four more times this month after tonight’s show. The Royal Opera House said it was not aware of any other Rosina who had performed in a wheelchair before.