Vittorio Grigolo received an enthusiastic ovation after his performance as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’amore at La Scala.
After having seen contracts suspended with The Royal Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala decided to take no action against the tenor as there is an undergoing investigation by The Royal Opera House. The audience was clearly very much on Grigolo’s side with its deafening applause.
“Love always prevails,” Grigolo said after the performance. “There will always be gossiping, and words designed to sell more copies of a newspaper. After 20 years of intensive work and sacrifice, the audience at La Scala appreciated that and let me know that I am loved for who I am – that is, exuberant in taking the applause… energetic. I hugged some members of the chorus [during the curtain call] this evening, so I hope I won’t be having any more problems.
“Irony, euphoria, enthusiasm… think that we’re full of adrenaline, after a show like this, there’s adrenaline like an athlete has after running 100 metres, or a gladiator on entering the arena.”
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.
I am an Argentine, of French and Italian descent. I do not believe by any circumstance that the behavior of Grigolo during the curtain call, was so criminal as your article and the people of this country believe. It is disgusting to me, the reaction of a puritanical society, that sees wrong in any silly and momentary action of men in the arts, who have reached a important spaces, on the stages of the world. I do not care how you judge me, i am not a feminist, it seems that today, in America, the only ones who are believed are women. What about the accused ones?, do they ever, have the right, especially if they happen to be a famous “Opera Singers”?. My opinion, they need to sign contracts in countries where the Latin blood is understood, in a matter of fact, where, we laugh at puritanism, that many times hides very disgusting behavior. There is not even the respect, to study the accusation under the law. Immediately the mob judges, guilty! ….and the Companies, fearful of losing patronage and subscribers, cancel the accused performances, and keep the mob happy. I do not care, if they reinstate these singers or not. They have enough places in the world, to sing till the end of their times. I consider myself European, I have enjoyed opera all my life, in Europe, especially in Italy, France and Germany, now, from NC, still do, this time in the internet….also in Buenos Aires, an important center of great high opera,, Santiago, La ciudad de Mejico, and so on.. If these companies ever sign a Romanian singer,, remember, they are also Latin, they might hug somebody, during a curtain call, the name of the country says it, Roma, Romania.
Few people know that Vittorio Grigolo started singing when he was just four years old, a little early even for one of the world’s most musical countries, Italy. By the age of nine the boy was already a soloist in the choir of the Sistine Chapel (the family lived in Rome), and when Vittorio turned 13 he made his debut as Pastorello in the opera Tosca. In the same production, Pavarotti sang the aria of Cavaradossi! It is said that the great tenor even signed the guy’s autograph: “A Vittorio Primo” = “to Vittorio the First”. The press immediately dubbed Grigolo Pavarottino II. At the age of 18, Vittorio was already working with the Vienna Opera Company, and at 23 he performed at the famous La Scala in Milan, setting a record as the youngest singer ever to do so. This was not, however, the only record in his biography. At just 18 years of age, his career looked so promising that Vittorio was exempted from compulsory military service – for the first time in Italian history! The singer’s repertoire not only includes arias in operas by Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Gounod, Massenet, Offenbach, Rossini, and Mozart; his role in Bernstein’s West Side Story was a turning point in his life, a fact I learned when I was doing help with assignment on https://writemypapers4me.net/do-my-assignment/. Grigolo has since recorded a solo album, Papero, which puts him in a new light as a composer and performer of popular music. His concerts have attracted stadiums, and he has been featured on television. And yet opera remains the mainstay of the Italian tenor’s career – this year alone the singer has made six debuts, including appearances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Covent Garden Theatre in Britain’s capital.
My opinionis that they must for them to enter into contracts only in nations in which there is a sense that the Latin blood is accepted as a matter fact. In countries where we have a laugh at puritanism which often conceals horrendous actions. There’s no consideration to research the lawful basis for the charge. The mob immediately decides, to be guilty! ….and The Companies in fear of losing subscribers and patrons, stop the performances accused of being a fraud and make sure the mob is content.