His talent was one of the reasons that drew in thousands of audience members, but his sudden fall mid-performance was what made them clear out of the famous theatre in minutes

The Metropolitan Opera House is an iconic entertainment venue on Broadway in New York but it has tragically borne witness to a dramatically tragic death.

The theatre was reopened in 1966 to replace the original 1883 Metropolitan Opera House and was the scene of a heartbreaking tragedy when a performer died in front of thousands of fans.

Reknown opera singer Richard Versalle died on stage during a live performance, on what was the company’s première performance.

He was 63 and had spent a long time in the operatic and entertainment business after serving in the submarine branch of the US Navy. It wasn’t until later in life, at the age of 45, that he made his operatic stage debut, starting a career that would take him to his death.

On January 5, 1996, Versalle was playing the role of a law clerk, Vitek, for the premiere of Janáček’s The Makropulos Case – except it was performed in English translation. He sang the words of the song: “Too bad you can live only so long,” before he had a devastating heart attack.

Stood halfway up a ladder which was 20 feet from the ground, Versalle suffered a sudden heart attack and, as a result, fell down to the stage floor.

Audience members were in shock, with many reportedly assuming it was part of the performance, but it wasn’t long until the entire show was brought to a halt. Joseph Volpe, the general manager at the time, made the tough decision to pull the fire alarm in order to clear out the audience, who were all still sitting in confusion.

Versalle, on the other hand, was rushed to St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival. It wasn’t long before his death was reported in the media.

In a tribute to Versalle on Facebook, fans of his work shared their fond memories of him in a post titled ‘Remembering Dick Versalle: 30 years after tragic loss’.

One reads: “Such a nice man and great singer. I met him in 1982 when he sang Canio at Lake George Opera Festival, where I was a young artist. He absolutely shattered the audience every night. At the Met, he was funny and beloved.”

Another user wrote: “It was a sad and scary evening. RIP Richard.” While one person shared: “Such a great voice and singer!!!! I remember his Tristan at Pittsburgh Opera, which he sang magnificently!!!!”

Although, in a strange turn of events, he was not the first to have met his fate in this way at this venue. Versalle was in fact the second singer to die onstage, following baritone Leonard Warren, who died at the age of 49 in 1960, also of a heart attack.

Another tragic death came mid-performance of ‘Macbeth’ by Verdi when an audience member committed suicide. Something about the hallowed halls of the Met carries a lot of tragedy, which is apt for a dramatic space.

Hopes of a fresh start are swiftly dashed in EastEnders next week as Mo Harris (Laila Morse), Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) and Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) arrive at the Vic to move in – only to be met with tragedy.

The Slater clan are all set to move out of No. 31 after Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal) followed through on her threat to have them evicted over failure to pay rent.

The property in question has been home to the Slaters for many years and housed some of their finest memories, including happier times with Martin Fowler (James Bye), who tragically died almost two years ago.

Leaving their family home behind proves tough for the clan, with Lily in particular taking it to heart. Big Mo is on hand to try and cheer her up, boosting her mood as she contemplates a new chapter for them over at the Vic.

With Jean by their side, they head over to the Vic to join Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie).

But little do they know what awaits them when they get there.

Zoe (Michelle Ryan) tragically died in the small hours of the morning, having sustained a head injury after falling on some rubble.

Kat encouraged her daughter to get it checked out and Zoe promised that she would the following day if it hadn’t eased up by then. But sadly tragedy struck soon after, with Zoe dying on her own, calling out for mum Kat who did not hear her.

In devastating scenes, Kat found Zoe’s body in bed. Unable to share her discovery, she keeps it to herself but Alfie soon learns the truth.

Jean, Mo and Lily arrive at the Vic and subsequently learn what’s happened – they learn that Zoe has died. They’re stunned and heartbroken.

It’s an emotional day for all who reside in the pub, with Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) taking the news particularly difficult given that he and Zoe had grown close in the past year.

Word of Zoe’s death filters out into the Square and those who saw her last – namely Max Branning (Jake Wood) – are left in shock.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer. 

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Jade Jones made it three wins from three this year when she beat Sheena Bathory in Newcastle

Welsh boxer Jade Jones immediately called out her next opponent after beating Sheena Bathory last night to claim her third win of the year.

The Olympic champion stopped ‘The Hungarian Hurricane’ after four rounds on the Misfits card in Newcastle.

That makes it the third win of the year for the former taekwondo legend, who appeared on the undercard of the Big Stacks v Jordan McCann fight in the north east.

Bathory was bloodied at the end of the fourth round of what was scheduled to be a five-round contest. The bout was far from pretty but Jones dominated from start to finish.

Victory means Jones is now the MFB women’s super middleweight champion.

“I didn’t really do my plan, I was supposed to box, so I don’t think Swifty is really that happy with me,” she said to DAZN after the fight.

“But I think I have shown toughness, I’ve shown I can take a few shots, I wanted to test the chin, what better girl to test it with than Sheena.

“To be honest I’m not really that happy about it,” she added of her own performance. “I didn’t think I stuck to my plan, but I’ve shown I’m from Flint, I’m a fighter, I want to get rough and ready, we’re the one, don’t mess about with the Flint people!”

On what’s next, she said: “Keep improving, now I’ve got the belts, I hold all the cards, people are going to have to come fight for me.”

Cris Cyborg was also mentioned as a possible next opponent for the north Walian.

“I’ve got the belt, so I hold all the cards,” Jones said.

“Now people have got to come and fight me to fight for this belt. Mams [Taylor] keeps talking about Cyborg.

“Obviously, she’s a very top competitor, so who knows? Maybe I need a couple more first, but she’s definitely in my sights.”

The former Top Gear presenter is in remission after revealing on the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm that he had been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer.

The 66-year-old chose to have high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a minimally invasive medical procedure that uses high-frequency soundwaves to heat and destroy targeted cancer cells.

His partner of nine years, Lisa Hogan, says he was initially reluctant to share his diagnosis with the public.

She told the Daily Star Sunday: “I’m really happy he caught his prostate cancer early and I’m really proud of him for putting it on the show, because that was a really big decision.

“When I was filming him in hospital at first, he said, ‘Please don’t’.

“It was (producer) Andy Wilman who convinced him to do it, to help everybody else. When the show came out, Prostate Cancer UK had 30,000 people going on to their website in one day.”

Hogan says Clarkson has also benefitted from opening up to those around him.

“Yes, of course it was a terrible worry,” she added. “But what I did encourage him to do was to talk to his friends.

“He didn’t want to initially, but he’s got lots of friends who’ve been through the same thing and he’s been talking to them about it. I think that’s really helped.”

Clarkson revealed in June that he is in remission.

The Wellington Inn in Alma Terrace, Fishergate, has been open a month now.

Landlady Isabel Redfern-Smith says things have been “going really well”.

The Press called by on Friday lunchtime, a month to the day the historic ‘wet-led’ pub re-opened and found a few drinkers inside enjoying the fine day.

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Isabel said of the first month: “We have been busy. Everybody is positive. We have had really good feedback from all the old faces and the new faces.”

Isabel, who runs the pub with husband Henry, says the best seller has been the Old Brewery Bitter “which has been going down a treat.”

“Everybody is loving it,” she continued.

Prior to coming to York from Featherstone, the couple had been running their family-owned pub in Pontefract. Henry also had a small brewery.

Isabel Redfern-Smith and Henry Smith behind the bar, as taken from outside the pub through the front window, so as not to breach brewery policy on digital devices. (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Isabel continued: “Customers know how Henry keeps the beer. The stout is also going down a treat.”

The Wellington Inn, which is affectionately known as ‘the Welly,’ has been receiving rave reviews online since the young couple took over.

The latest TripAdvisor review was from “a regular who will continue to be a regular,” who awarded five stars out of five.

The review continued: “I am a regular at the Wellie and the hand pulled bitter has never been better, a big thanks to our new friendly hosts Henry and Isobel.”

The latest review on Google gave four stars and said: “Great Samuel Smith’s pub. Had a revamp since I’d last been, but it has kept its character. Excellent beer at a great price.”

Another recent comment gave five stars and said: “A fabulous authentic original Sam Smith’s pub with an abundance of character. Fantastic well-kept beer. Your Host and hostess are a truly warm wonderful, friendly young couple whom make everyone feel welcome.”

Isabel Redfern-Smith and Henry Smith behind the bar, as taken from outside the pub through the front window, so as not to breach brewery policy on digital devices. (Image: Darren Greenwood)

The re-opening of ‘The Welly’ comes as Sam Smith’s brewery has stepped up its efforts to re-open its pubs across the country.

As recently reported, Tom Taverner of Malton, who keeps a list of which of the Tadcaster-based brewery’s pubs are open or closed, recorded 18 re-openings nationally since the start of June.

The Sam Smith’s pubs that have reopened since the start of June, he says, include the Golden Ball, Scarborough; Angel & White Horse, Tadcaster; Ebor Inn, Bishopthorpe; Wellington Inn, York; Tankard Inn, Rufforth; and the Red Lion at Bramham, near Wetherby.

Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest Premier League odds, Petit said: “Mikel Arteta has been rebuilding Arsenal step by step and I really liked the way they worked on the transfer market this summer, bringing some players in and trying to make the squad as competitive as possible. It was like watching them create a painting.

For years, Roger Hardy kept trying to explain away the agonising pain in his nose.

As a sculptor, the 56-year-old was used to working amid clouds of sawdust, metal shavings and white spirit, so when his nose began throbbing, it seemed logical to blame the fumes and dust in his Suffolk studio.

But gradually the burning sensation spread across his face. His nose became red and inflamed, mucus left him struggling to breathe and the pain became so severe at night that he could barely sleep.

‘It started taking over my life,’ recalls Roger. ‘The constant throbbing pain – which was accompanied by mucus – was really exhausting. It was so sore at night that I had to breathe through my mouth.’

Eventually, his GP diagnosed sinusitis – inflammation of the air-filled spaces behind the forehead, cheeks and nose – and prescribed antibiotics, followed by steroid nasal sprays.

The treatment helped, but each time Roger stopped using the spray, the pain returned.

Yet today, after years of recurring symptoms, Roger says he is virtually symptom-free – thanks not to another drug, but to one surprisingly simple change to his diet: He gave up dairy.

Within four or five days of making that one small tweak, he says, the burning pain and congestion that had plagued him for years had almost completely disappeared.

‘I couldn’t quite believe it,’ he says. ‘After years of pain, my symptoms had virtually gone.’

The idea that dairy can worsen congestion and other respiratory symptoms is hardly new. For generations, milk has been blamed for producing ‘excess mucus’ – a claim largely dismissed by doctors as a myth because studies found that drinking milk does not actually increase nasal secretions.

But scientists are now investigating a subtly different possibility: that in a small group of people, an allergy or sensitivity to foods including cow’s milk can contribute to the inflammation underlying chronic sinus problems.

And emerging research suggests diet more generally may have a greater influence on the condition than previously thought.

The turnaround for Roger came four years after his problems started, when his wife suggested he consult a private nutritionist.

Initially, he was sceptical. ‘I’ve never smoked, I don’t drink alcohol, I’m fairly fit and I eat a well-balanced diet. I couldn’t see what a nutritionist could do for me,’ he says.

But during the consultation, the possibility was raised that something in his diet could be contributing to his symptoms – with dairy identified as a potential trigger.

At the time, dairy featured heavily in Roger’s diet, from yoghurt at breakfast and after dinner, to butter and cheese at lunch. He decided to cut it out completely – and within days, he says, his symptoms had virtually disappeared.

While experts stress that dairy is unlikely to explain every case of chronic sinusitis, there is some evidence it may contribute to symptoms in some patients

While experts stress that dairy is unlikely to explain every case of chronic sinusitis, there is some evidence it may contribute to symptoms in some patients. 

A 2011 study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy found that hidden milk allergies may play a role in some cases of chronic sinus disease. 

Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna found that one in seven patients with chronic sinusitis had an undiagnosed cow’s milk allergy – compared with none of the healthy volunteers studied.

According to Dr Carl Philpott, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and professor of rhinology at the University of East Anglia, questions about dairy are common among sinusitis sufferers. ‘A lot of people in my clinic ask me about dairy,’ he says.

‘I typically recommend what’s known as an elimination diet – whereby patients cut out dairy for a week and see if their symptoms improve.’

More recently, a 2026 review found that anti-inflammatory diets were linked with better sinus health, while diets high in fat and ultra-processed foods were associated with a greater burden of symptoms.

However, the review’s authors stressed that the evidence remains limited, adding that larger clinical trials are needed before dietary changes can be routinely recommended as a treatment.

But Dr Philpott says there is a plausible biological explanation for why diet may influence symptoms in some patients.

‘I couldn’t quite believe it,’ says Roger. ‘After years of pain, my symptoms had virtually gone’

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‘Chronic sinusitis appears to be a local immunological problem,’ he says. ‘The lining of the nose and sinuses becomes overly sensitive to environmental exposures, such as dust, pollen and infections over time – which is why most patients present with symptoms later in life, often in their early 50s.

‘So it is plausible that underlying allergies, intolerances and dietary factors could contribute to symptoms in some patients.’

For most sufferers, however, treatment will still involve more conventional measures.

Specialists often recommend regular saline nasal rinsing, which can help wash away mucus, allergens and inflammatory debris.

And while steroid nasal sprays can be used to control inflammation, patients should be wary of relying for too long on a different type – over-the-counter decongestant sprays.

This is because of the risk of ‘rebound’ congestion – i.e. they end up making symptoms worse with overuse – something that 60 per cent of pharmacists believe patients are unaware of, according to research by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

‘Like with many health conditions, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinusitis can make a significant difference,’ says Dr Philpott. ‘Long-term antibiotics do not seem to help the majority of patients, and if the condition is picked up late, many can end up relying on steroid nasal sprays for life.

‘Since the pandemic, we are seeing more patients presenting with quite severe disease, which can be much more difficult to manage.

He adds: ‘If you do suffer from persistent symptoms, be religious about nasal rinsing twice a day. And if you’ve done that for three months and are still struggling, ask your GP for a referral to an ENT specialist.’

Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko is back to full fitness after recovering from a shin injury that he aggravated last season.

Benjamin Sesko could make his first start for Manchester United in the Premier League for 133 days in the Manchester derby.

Michael Carrick is likely to revert to a striker-less attacking line for Manchester City’s visit to Old Trafford, but Sesko gave his manager something to think about by scoring against Sabah SK in the Champions League.

Sesko made his first start of the season against Sabah, which he “really enjoyed” after making appearances from the bench in United’s opening league games against Hull, Ipswich Town and Everton.

Whether Carrick believes Sesko is the right choice to play up front against City, a game in which his team will try to counter-attack, remains to be seen, but he is back to full fitness after recovering from a shin injury.

“I got a kick last season, but it was also a little bit of an overload from myself,” Sesko said, referring to a challenge from Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate in May, which aggravated an existing shin injury.

The kick from Konate was enough to keep Sesko out of pre-season entirely. He did not play a single minute across the summer, but insiders were adamant that he would return for the first game against Hull.

“It was basically just to make sure that it doesn’t get worse because this was kind of a problem,” he explained.

“We just needed a little bit longer, longer than usual, because if you start too early, it might appear again. And I think waiting a little bit longer was a great decision, and now it’s healed, so it’s perfect.”

Sesko stayed behind at Carrington over the summer while United made trips around Europe, and photos published by the club’s in-house photographer showed that he’d used the time to bulk up.

The Slovenia international deliberately cut in the weeks before the season to be more agile, though. “Obviously, I had quite some time from the injury to gain some muscle,” he said.

“I lost a lot because I was overweight with muscles, and I couldn’t really move so much, but now I feel very good and I think I’m in the right place at the moment.”

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Sesko now feels he’s in the best place he’s been in since his arrival from RB Leipzig last year. “Way better, especially than last season. I changed a country,” he said when asked about his mental and physical state.

“Everything was new for me. Now, for me, it’s like I’m really enjoying it. I’m really happy here. I love life here. I have teammates that are perfect. I can’t really complain about anything.

“I like the vibes. I even like to go to the city for a walk. I can do certain arcade things that I like to do in my free time. Then, obviously, spending a little time with the players.”

Sesko is an introvert, but he comes out of his shell when he gets to know somebody. “Beni was very shy and quiet at first contact,” his former coach, Mirsad Mujakić, from Slovenian team NK Krško told the Manchester Evening News.

“However, already in the first training sessions, he showed exceptional athletic abilities and technical knowledge, which players at this age usually do not have.

“He was an exceptional boy, all his teammates loved him because of his positive nature. At the same time, he knew how to motivate the team and encourage his teammates to work extra hard.”

Sesko has developed a close friendship with Diogo Dalot, bonding during their early visits to Carrington before the mandatory training reporting time.

“He’s an early bird as well, so the first few weeks we were coming into Carrington at the same time and we created this bond,” Dalot told the MEN last season.

“We both have very similar ways of behaving and thinking, so it became a natural, good relationship, and I think that sometimes helps you to also adapt quickly to a new environment, to a new league, to a new country.”

Sesko was brought off in the 64th minute against Sabah on Thursday, and Carrick may have made that change to keep him fresh for the Manchester derby. United were dominant against Sabah, and the win was a confidence booster ahead of the City clash.

Carrick oversaw a 2-0 win against City in his first game in charge following his interim appointment in January. “Unbelievable,” Sesko said of the game. “It was very, very nice. I’m really hoping for a moment like this again on Sunday. I think we can put in a great performance.

“I think again I said many times what he [Carrick] provided for us already. Even from the start, when he came, it was something special. I think everyone felt it.”

Carrick has got a tune out of Sesko since his return to the club. “The more games I’m getting, the more comfortable I feel and the more free I feel in the game as well,” he said. “For me, focus is all about scoring goals to provide everything for this team.

“But then also certain things, like link-up play, these little things that can be better. I think it will just come now for the time being. I’m here. I feel every day better and better. This is the most important.”

Sesko has his feet on the ground as he looks to develop into one of the world’s best strikers. “I try to give everything to this club. We talk about legends that are the best of the best in the world. I’m still very far from that,” he reflected.

“I’m just trying to get better each day, trying to provide for this club and for me to get better.”

They didn’t expect to find it

Villagers have uncovered and restored a hand-built reservoir that is more than 150-years-old. Its discovery came about during construction for a new footpath in Orwell.

Following its discovery, volunteers began excavating the cistern by hand, according to Orwell Parish Council. However, this was later deemed “too dangerous”, so a speciality team emptied the well using a “Giant Henry Hoover vacuum the size of a refuse lorry”, the council explained.

The reservoir, built in the 1860s, was specially designed to catch rainwater from a house roof for use in washing and irrigating plants. It has been estimated it would have stored 9,000 litres of water.

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The three metre-deep structure, which was constructed of bricks and made at Wimpole, had been completely hidden where nobody was aware of its existence. This find, which was amid an ongoing water shortage, evidenced the innovative approach the Victorians took in building it.

Since then, volunteers have completely emptied the structure, partially restored the dome, and have created a special viewing platform. It was unveiled on Saturday (September 5) to the village.

The reservoir is located on land previously owned by the Diocese of Ely. Orwell Parish Council, working in partnership with the Diocese, has taken ownership of the land together with the adjoining Glebe Field. This will aim to preserve the five-acre site as green open space in perpetuity.

Fundraising enabled the parish council to acquire the land for the village. It also funded the council to plant trees and hedgerows, install a community picnic table and create a new footpath.

The funding has allowed the construction of a butterfly mound, and fences to be repaired and replaced. Newly installed kissing gates will allow people with buggies and mobility scooters to access the space.

Speaking about Glebe Field, Ely Diocesan Secretary George Woods, said that “this particular field in Orwell hasn’t been farmed for decades, and we decided that it would be far better if it was returned to the local community for use as a village amenity site”.

Britain’s rush to Net Zero means it will be luck rather than good management if the lights stay on this winter, a leading analyst has warned.

European nations face a series of energy shocks in the coming weeks thanks to the Iran war, record low gas reserves and a water shortage in Norway that threatens to cut crucial exports of hydro-electric power.

But Britain is uniquely vulnerable because the dash for wind and solar power and power station closures mean we now import electricity from our neighbours, said energy consultant and parliamentary adviser Kathryn Porter. 

‘We’ve put ourselves in a position where we can’t meet our own demand, particularly when the wind doesn’t blow,’ she told The Mail on Sunday. ‘We can cope with these risks individually, but combined they are a threat. It means we have to be lucky all the time.

‘Every single winter we’re making this gamble, and eventually we’ll lose. It could well lead to higher electricity prices and, if we finally run out of luck, blackouts.’

Her warning follows Ofgem’s announcement that the energy price cap will rise in October by £60 to £1,723, and experts have predicted that household bills are about to surge.

Shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie said the looming electricity shortage was ‘increasingly dangerous’ and urged Labour to resume drilling in the North Sea.

‘It is a threat to our security and prosperity,’ he told the MoS. ‘We’re more exposed than any other country – it’s deeply worrying.

‘It demonstrates the folly of failing to exploit our own resources. If we got the Jackdaw gas field up and running now, we could be pumping gas by Christmas.’

On Friday it was reported that a decision on whether to open the giant Jackdaw North Sea gas field near Aberdeen is likely to be postponed until after the Holborn And St Pancras by-election.

The seat is likely to be a race between Labour and the Green Party candidate, Zack Polanski.

Meanwhile, a National Audit Office report warns that delays to a £70billion upgrade to the national grid will cost consumers billions of pounds because the transmission system cannot cope with the rapid shift to renewables. The NAO estimates that attempts to decarbonise the grid by 2030 will add £1.9billion a year to bills.

Britain’s plight could get worse if, as feared, neighbouring governments prioritise domestic prices.

Norwegian politicians are already demanding export controls, arguing Norway should not be treated as ‘Europe’s battery’.

‘There’s a danger governments will prioritise their own consumers,’ said Ms Porter, who advises MPs on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies. ‘They will stop exporting any spare capacity and the market will break down.’

This year’s heatwaves mean that reservoir levels are lower than for 20 years – and falling.

Britain’s ageing electricity infrastructure and the move away from traditional power stations to unpredictable wind and solar energy are adding to the problem.

In June, whistleblowers at the National Energy System Operator (Neso) claimed the national grid had been so short of electricity that, at one point, it breached safety limits, prompting an independent inquiry. One

Neso engineer told the MoS that power cuts are now a ‘mathematical certainty’.

He claimed the engineers charged with keeping the grid stable are ‘flying blind’, armed with minimal information, yet obliged to deal with thousands of unpredictable wind and solar generators around the country.

Ms Porter said: ‘If this winter sees another long spell of high pressure – and no wind – like the one we’ve just seen in the summer, then Britain will be in an extraordinarily difficult position.

‘You don’t have to have too many things go against you for the grid to break down. Losing one big power station or one big interconnector would be enough.

‘Who, in the cold light of day, could honestly say this is a sensible way to run things?’