The news of Mirella Freni‘s passing has deeply moved all the workers, the musicians, and the management of the La Scala Theatre. Before the performance of Il Trovatore on Sunday, February 9, there will be a minute’s silence. Mirella Freni was part of the La Scala family and among the great voices of the 20th century perhaps no one was more liked by both the public and colleagues.
In thirty-four years in the Milanese Opera House, from 1962 to 1996, Mirella Freni was the protagonist of some of the performances that have formed the identity of the theatre, including seven openings of the opera season. Her legendary rigour, and innate musicality coupled with study and respect for the score, made her an interpreter loved by conductors as much as by the audiences.
La Scala will dedicate the opening of Umberto Giordano’s Fedora to her on 3 June 2020. Fedora was the last role that Mirella Freni sang at La Scala, in 1996.
Here are more than 50 photographs documenting some of her many appearances.
Graham Spicer, aka 'Gramilano', is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
