"Silence - Recording in Progress" reads the sign, as Maria Callas arrives at La Scala to record Il trovatore in 1956. More than any other theatre, Callas is linked with the great opera house in Milan. She recorded many of the 'studio' recordings there when the theatre was closed for the summer break, and gave … Continue reading
FEATURED POST
Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra famously retired in 1970 only to make a comeback three years later, after which he continued to sing into the '90s.Former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky is making a faster comeback than Ol' Blue Eyes.After 23 years with The Royal Ballet, Zenaida Yanowsky gave her final curtain … Continue reading
RECENT POSTS
#OperaPassion from the BBC with a live streaming day, events on TV and radio, and the V&A’s “Opera: Passion, Power and Politics”
Tony Hall, currently the Director-General of the BBC but previously the Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House from 2001 until 2013, is bringing his opera experience to broadcasting in a bold new collaborative … Continue reading
‘extension’, a project to slow time in dance – stunning video clips from Niv Novak
https://vimeo.com/234074498Photographer Niv Novak has created a collection of stunning video clips of dance moves, stretched out in gloriously detailed slow motion. They are already causing a social media stir, … Continue reading
Raina Kabaivanska on the importance of Maria Callas: She’s up there and we’re down here
I was born in Bulgaria. I’m a daughter of communism. I lived with communism behind the iron curtain. We had no idea of the voices in the West because it was forbidden to listen to radio from those countries. We were … Continue reading
Maria Callas on Stage – a new exhibition at La Scala
Maria Callas in scena - Gli anni alla Scala (Maria Callas on Stage – the La Scala Years) runs from 15 September to 31 January at La Scala’s museum, which is housed in the same building as the theatre.The … Continue reading
English National Ballet announces 2018 Spring/Summer Season including world premiere by William Forsythe
World premiere of new work by William Forsythe created especially for English National Ballet. Voices of America: Jerome Robbins/William Forsythe/Aszure Barton, a new mixed bill dedicated to neoclassical ballet … Continue reading
Preview peek at La Scala’s new production of Tamerlano starring Domingo, Mehta, Fagioli, Crebassa and Schiavo
La Scala’s Baroque Orchestra returns, after last year’s successful Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, for a new production of Handel’s Tamerlano, again conducted by Diego Fasolis.An impressive cast … Continue reading
RECENT DANCE POSTS
The world’s cheapest city (and most expensive) for a cultural break
Prague has come up trumps as the place where those planning a cultural city break can save money this autumn, according to the 2017 British Post … Continue reading
National Ballet of Canada brings its stars to Paris in Neumeier’s Nijinsky
The National Ballet of Canada brings John Neumeier's ballet Nijinsky to Paris in October. The performances mark the National Ballet’s return to … Continue reading
Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Merle Park in 1979: Green Park, Hyde Park or Merle Park?
Merle Park, the engine driver’s daughter from Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe), ended up being one of The Royal Ballet’s brightest stars. She says that … Continue reading
Dame Merle Park on a ballerina’s need for rest and energy: I have six spoonfuls of sugar in my tea
Back in the days when Merle Park was a CBE — she became Dame Merle in 1986 — she left this interview with a British women’s magazine. It makes … Continue reading
World Ballet Day 2017: 5 October Live with Australian, Bolshoi, Royal, Canadian and San Francisco Ballet Companies
Five of the world's leading ballet companies will come together for World Ballet Day on Thursday 5 October to broadcast 20 hours of live, … Continue reading
Tamara Karsavina compares Rudolf Nureyev and Vaslav Nijinsky
Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West in 1961 and later that same year he danced with Margot Fonteyn for the first time, and the following year he … Continue reading
RECENT MUSIC & OPERA POSTS
A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964
More than a gift to their own coffers, Warner Classics in releasing Maria Callas Live is giving fans of La Divina and lovers of opera a … Continue reading
![Maria Callas as told by her ‘little sister’, Giovanna Lomazzi [interview]](https://i1.wp.com/www.gramilano.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Maria-Callas-La-Scalas-Intendant-Antonio-Ghiringhelli-and-Giovanna-Lomazzi-leaving-the-premiere-of-La-Dolce-Vita-in-Milan-1960-x.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Maria Callas as told by her ‘little sister’, Giovanna Lomazzi [interview]
On 16 September 2017, it will be 40 years since Maria Callas died in her home in Paris at the age of 53.Callas’s friend Giovanna Lomazzi was … Continue reading
Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives
Luciano Pavarotti died ten years ago today, on 6 September 2007.Teatro alla Scala continually welcomed the great tenor to its stage for … Continue reading
Sneak preview: Hänsel and Gretel at La Scala, Milan
Tonight, a new productions of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel opens in Milan at Teatro alla Scala.The cast features opera students … Continue reading
Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
The studio recording - her first in six years - explores the generation of Italian composers that followed Verdi, including three duets with … Continue reading
Enzo Dara – tributes from his colleagues and friends: “What joy he brought to us all”
Some of Enzo Dara’s colleagues have written tributes and recollections of the great basso buffo, who died after a long illness on 25 August … Continue reading