Why were they booing?
pehr-KEH fees-KYA-vah-noh. 'Fischiavano' is the imperfect of fischiare.
After hearing the audience boo a performer. In Italian opera houses, booing is a legitimate form of critical response from knowledgeable audiences. Asking this shows curiosity about Italian opera culture.
Perché means why. Fischiavano is the third-person plural imperfect of fischiare (to whistle or boo). In Italian opera contexts, fischiare means to boo — the audience physically whistles to express displeasure. This is distinct from polite silence.
Fischiare al teatro è normale in Italia?
Is booing at the theatre normal in Italy?
Asking about the cultural custom of booing.
Il cantante ha cantato male?
Did the singer sing badly?
Asking for an assessment of the performance.
È stata anche cacciata dal palco?
Was she also driven off stage?
In extreme cases, singers have had to leave the stage.
Famous boo incidents at La Scala include Roberto Alagna walking off stage mid-performance in 2006 after being booed, and Maria Callas being publicly criticised there — despite being acclaimed as the greatest soprano of the twentieth century. The Scala audience is considered the toughest in the world.