Nutcracker with Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko. Photo by Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala
Tonight, La Scala Ballet’s season kicks off with the return of Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker, last performed in the theatre in 2006.
The following photo album was of tonight’s opening cast at a preview performance for young people two days ago.
The ballet saw many leading dancers over the course of more than one hundred and twenty performances. Nureyev danced in this production at La Scala with Liliana Cosi (his first Clara in Milan), Vera Colombo, Carla Fracci, Anna Razzi, Merle Park and Evelyne Desutter, who was also his last partner in the 1987/88 season.
Opening cast: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker
Dr. Stahlbaum: Gabriele Corrado Frau Stahlbaum: Beatrice Carbone Drosselmeyer/The Prince: Timofej Andrijashenko Clara: Nicoletta Manni Fritz: Mattia Semperboni Luisa: Vittoria Valerio The Grandmother: Serena Sarnataro The Grandfather: Massimo Dalla Mora The Nutcracker: Valerio Lunadei Rat King: Gioacchino Starace Snowflakes: Maria Celeste Losa, Gaia Andreanò Spanish Dance: Vittoria Valerio, Mattia Semperboni Arabian Dance: Serena Sarnataro, Massimo Dalla Mora Arabian Dnace soloists: Antonella Albano, Marco Agostino Chinese Dance: Domenico Di Cristo, Federico Fresi, Rinaldo Venuti Russian Dance: Beatrice Carbone, Gabriele Corrado Shepherd Dance: Linda Giubelli, Agnese Di Clemente, Nicola Del Freo
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.
The Hudson Valley Dance Festival returns on 10 October 2026, bringing together an eclectic mix of contemporary dance artists, choreographers, and companies.
Carla Fracci was the testimonial for The Italian Foundation for Research in Rheumatology, a position now held by Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko.
Graham Spicer sees Gala Fracci, La Scala’s annual festa to celebrate the great Italian ballerina Carla Fracci who died in 2021, now in its fourth edition.
Jonathan Gray sees Calvin Richardson’s debut in Mayerling with The Royal Ballet – Tall, elegantly proportioned, expressive and blessed with great physical strength.
