On a day's notice, with no rehearsal, Roberto Alagna jumped in for an ailing tenor to sing ''Aida'' -- 10 months after he stormed off an Italian stage when he was booed in the same role.

The incident at Milan's La Scala last December triggered a worldwide uproar. In the next episode, played out Tuesday night at the Metropolitan Opera, Alagna got a standing ovation.

The 44-year-old French-born son of a Sicilian bricklayer was filling in for tenor Marco Berti, who fell ill on Monday. When the call came from Met General Manager Peter Gelb, Alagna said, ''I took it as a sign from God.''

''Tonight, I have finally put away the ghosts of Milan that have haunted me,'' he said during a midnight interview in his dressing room.