Sarah Lamb on débuting at La Scala in Manon with Claudio Coviello

As has already been reported, the on-off-on-off again tale of Natalia Osipova as Manon in Milan is now definitely “off” and she has been replaced by The Royal Ballet’s gorgeous Sarah Lamb. About her performance in the role, the Observer‘s respected and authoritative critic, Luke Jennings, wrote,

Lamb, kittenish and porcelain-pale, draws us in with a brilliantly calculating performance. MacMillan’s steps hold no fears for her; the real performance is in her eyes.

Although it is all last minute, Lamb is delighted at the opportunity to dance in Manon at La Scala,

I’m so happy to be here! Coming here to perform with Claudio has been a wonderful experience this far! He’s an incredibly attentive, generous, kind, and soulful – as well as a beautiful – dancer.

Coviello danced the role on the La Scala stage with Osipova two years ago when both dancers made their début in the ballet. He is getting used to working with new Manons at the last minute having danced the bedroom pas de deux with another Royal Ballet dancer, Melissa Hamilton, in the gala to close Expo just two weeks ago after just an hour of rehearsal.

Coviello says,

Sarah is a consummate professional and a magnificent artist. I’ve loved the rehearsals and I’m extremely happy to have this opportunity to dance with her. As an artist she is even more special because, as well as being a great dancer, she is also a wonderful person.

Lamb adds,

Manon is one of my favourite roles and the chance to perform it with this fabulous company on an historic stage is a dream come true and I know I will cherish it.

And I’m sure that the Milanese public will cherish Sarah Lamb!

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.