Stefano Parisi, centre-right candidate as the new mayor in Milan, has said,
I find it scandalous that an extraordinary artist, and the most important symbol of classical dance and of the city of Milan, like Carla Fracci. doesn’t have a central role at La Scala.
In fact, Fracci – who trained at La Scala’s academy and was its star attraction for many years – conducts no masterclasses, gives no lessons, and isn’t involved in restaging its ballets or coaching its artists. Surprising indeed. Even ‘scandalous’.
Parisi is an experienced administrator, businessman and has been involved in politics at the highest level in Rome. He was the director of the telecommunications company Fastweb, and the founder of Chili.tv, the Italian Netflix.
In an interview about Milanese culture, Parisi stated,
I want La Scala to regain that position that it held for two centuries when it was the one of the most important creative centres in the world. And La Scala must return to being a place for the people of the city, not just existing as a tourist attraction.
Returning to La Fracci, he said that maybe she should be involved in La Scala’s ballet school:
This is something I want to correct immediately, as soon as I become Mayor, if the Milanese people grant me that privilege.
END
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.
That is for her to know and him to find out .
He’s right, no question.
Great stars are not necessarily great teachers or administrators … Baryshnikov was a disaster as head of American Ballet Theatre, NYC
Fracci probably has the answer, ” I and my old theater seem to be tied by an invisible but indestructible umbilical cord. We can’t live without tormenting each other.” Sounds like it is not all to do with La Scala not using Ms Fracci, rather a question of six of one and half a dozen of the other, and you would think after 35 years (thats how old the quote is) that they would be grown up enough to realise that their old scores are benefitting neither themselves or the world they profess to love so much.
Fonteyn rarely taught , I understand. Callas did very little teaching. Having said that , Lesley Collier was a superb ballerina and from the the standard of female dancers at the RB , clearly a wonderful teacher.