Two ballets by Jerome Robbins to be live-streamed from La Scala on 12 November
Works by Jerome Robbins have not been seen at La Scala since 2004, but now he is being celebrated as part of the Balanchine/Robbins Triple Bill which opened on Friday 8 November.
The programme features two of his best-known works, both set to music by Chopin, and both are new for La Scala’s ballet company – Dances at a Gathering and The Concert.
Unfortunately, Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, which opens the evening, will not be transmitted, so the live stream begins at 8.40 pm (CET) on the LaScalaTv platform.
The ballets can be rented for €9.90, or €11.90 for 4K resolution. The video will be available on demand until 19 November 2024.
Dances at a Gathering will feature Nicoletta Manni (Pink), Martina Arduino (Mauve), Alice Mariani (Apricot), Linda Giubelli (Green), Asia Matteazzi (Blue), Claudio Coviello (Brown), Timofej Andrijashenko (Purple), Darius Gramada (Green Boy), Mattia Semperboni (Brick), and Christian Fagetti (Blue Boy)
The main roles for The Concert will be danced by Caterina Bianchi (The Ballerina), Marco Agostino (The Husband), Marta Gerani (The Wife), Alessandro Paoloni (Shy Boy), Antonella Albano (The Angry Lady), Emanuele Cazzato (First Man), Massimo Dalla Mora (Second Man), Rebecca Luca and Martina Marin (2 Matinée Ladies), Andrea Risso (Usher) and the Corps de Ballet of the Teatro alla Scala.
Leonardo Pierdomenico will be at the piano and Fayçal Karoui on the podium conducting the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala.
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.
In the Jerome Robbins’ production from Milan today, the great discovery was Darius Gramada. He was the best of the male dancers, followed closely by Timo Andrijashenko and Claudio Coviello. Darius was superb. Manuel Legris may have worked with him and trained him in Vienna.
Darius has amazing musicality. In his movements, he was always in perfect synchrony with his female partner. The angle of arm or leg was always right, and the timing impeccable. He was always on beat. Everything he did was perfect (with one exception). When he lifted the Apricot Girl onto his shoulders and held her parallel, he had to adjust his position with a couple of steps.
Timo and Nicoletta’s duets were excellent and beautiful, the first one especially. But Timo does not always land in the position he needs next and must make an adjustment and move a foot. Same for Claudio. His opening solo was very good but not impeccable, and his later appearances had problems with timing and synchronous movement with partner.
Nicoletta Manni and Martina Ardouino were outstanding among ballerinas and a great pleasure to watch.
La Scala gave us a very good program, enjoyable to watch.
Well said! Almost agree with everything, except I found Coviello’s solo very well done (though there is always some small improvement possible, so ‘not impeccable’ is right). Also Andrijashenko – such a good stage presence but not the cleanest of dancers. Gramada is one to watch – personality too. New to me were two excellent ballerinas, Asia Matteazzi and Linda Giubelli. Arduino always communicative. Was it Caterina Bianchi in The Concert? Fantastic to look at. I thought everyone caught the spirit of the (not my favorite) ballet. Shame the Balanchine was not transmitted.
Yes, very sad about the Balanchine. So much better than “The Concert.”
When will Legris be leaving? And who is going to take over?