Massimo Murru to play Onegin for one last time? His fans are doing all they can.

Massimo Murru has always had a very faithful following due to his thoughtful and rigorous approach to every role he has tackled in his career, and his artistic honesty, almost to the point of intransigence. It is a quality appreciated by Sylvie Guillem, among many other colleagues, who have wanted to work alongside him. He is now approaching retirement and several of his faithful fans have sought to ensure that he has a last performance as Onegin before he finally puts his flatties aside.

They have written an open letter to the management at Teatro alla Scala, included in their petition at change.org.

Alla Direzione del Ballo e al Sovrintendente del Teatro alla Scala

Gentili Signori,

siamo un nutrito gruppo di amanti del balletto, tutti legati da un comune denominatore: l'ammirazione per l'arte della vostra étoile Massimo Murru.

Seguiamo questo grande danzatore da moltissimi anni e sarebbe stato particolarmente gratificante vedere sottolineato il suo passaggio dal palcoscenico al nuovo ruolo di Maitre-Professeur con un evento inserito nel cartellone della prossima stagione.

La Scala, uno tra i più importanti e famosi teatri lirici del mondo, deve la sua posizione agli artisti che la hanno resa grande con la loro maestria.

Per questo motivo, vedere Massimo Murru ballare ancora una volta alla Scala a settembre/ottobre 2017 per una replica di Onegin, titolo certamente degno della sua meravigliosa carriera, sarebbe un suggello fantastico per lui, per l'Ente ed anche per noi suoi ammiratori.

Siamo certi che vorrete considerare questa nostra come una proposta che viene dal cuore di chi è consapevole della grandezza di un artista sempre elegante e discreto.

Altrettanto consapevoli siamo della lungimiranza di chi lavora perché il Teatro alla Scala continui ad essere eccellenza mondiale.

Grati per la vostra attenzione, speriamo in un vostro positivo riscontro.

Rispettosamente,

The letter underlines the fact that La Scala Principal, Massimo Murru, has given much to the theatre with his art, that he has now assumed a teaching and coaching role at the theatre; but seeing that a role he is noted for appears later in the season – Onegin in September and October of this year – it would be a fitting tribute to his career to give him a final performance in the role.

Murru is a timid soul, though not about his own artistic worth or that of others, and is certainly not the type to hammer down a door and make demands. How thoughtful, then, of these appreciative lovers of ballet, and ballet as it is expressed through the talents of Massimo Murru, to make a request on his behalf.

If you would like to sign the petition (it will only take a couple of minutes) the link is here:

https://www.change.org/p/direzione-del-ballo-teatro-alla-scala-lettera-aperta-al-teatro-alla-scala-per-rivedere-massimo-murru-in-onegin-2017

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.