One of opera’s most elegant stars, Raina Kabaivanska, has donated a number of her concert gowns for a charity auction which starts today.
The soprano, who will be 77 next month, has given many of her signature Roberto Capucci creations to E For People who are auctioning more than 10,000 items of clothing and accessories in this their 7th year. All proceeds from sales will go in favour of the Salesian Mission in Ethiopia Adwua for the construction of the first, and only, paediatric hospital.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
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Rosalind Plowright looks back at her 50-year career with Paul Arrowsmith before a run as Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera at Opera Holland Park from 25 July.