Alexander Pereira’s partner Daniela de Souza on Zara and Wagner

The 27 year-old partner of the new Sovrintendente at La Scala (Alexander Pereira, 66) has left her first interview with Italy's Chi magazine. Daniela de Souza was born in Manaus in Brazil and her relationship with Pereira began when she was 19. The model and clothes designer took the opportunity to present some of her creations in the house they live in close to the Milanese theatre. She explained to Giulia Cerasoli how they met:

It was at a dinner in Zurich at the house of some friends. He seemed rather serious and heavy going. A year later, while I was in Ibiza, he invited me to the football World Cup. Well, I am Brazilian!

It wasn't love at first sight, but Alexander is very sensitive man. He shops, he cooks… He gives me good advice. I wanted to be a lawyer but he suggested I should go in to fashion. He was right.

This is de Souza's interview so Pereira remains in the background. He does say, however, that during their eight years together he still hasn't learnt Portuguese,

It's a problem because Daniela's family don't speak English or Italian or German.

Her favourite designer? Saab. “But I want to make it clear that I go shopping at Zara and H&M,” and she says she also likes Dolce e Gabbana and Giorgio Armani. As a designer, she is specialising in wedding dresses and says that she would never do ready-to-wear. Whether she would consider designing costumes for an opera or ballet she doesn't say as she wasn't asked… a pity. Does she like what goes on inside an opera house?

Before meeting Alexander, no. I caught up in Zurich… full immersion. I love Giuseppe Verdi but I can't bear Wagner's Die Walküre.

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.