In 1964, when Maria Callas was ill during a rehearsal of Tosca at Covent Garden, her place was taken by the producer, John Copley. A titled lady, arriving at the box office to collect some tickets, pleaded to be allowed to overhear a moment of the rehearsal. The window from the box office to the auditorium was set ajar as Copley hit Tosca's famous "ah, che orror!". "Oh, that unmistakable voice!" sighed the lady and crept away content.
