Two Italian living legends together: Ferruccio Soleri, the greatest Arlecchino, and Carla Fracci, the greatest Giselle

Ferruccio Soleri (class of 1929) has played Arlecchino in Giorgio Strehler's legendary production of Goldoni's masterpiece Servant of Two Masters (Arlecchino servitore di due padroni) for Milan's Piccolo Teatro since 1959. And he still is. He will be playing the role for the 53rd season this year, and on tour in Argentina.

Here he is pictured with long-time friend and colleague Carla Fracci (I wouldn't reveal a lady's age, but the two have 159 years between them!) whose Giselle with the American Ballet Theatre remains a touchstone in filmed ballet performances.

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.