The Scottish composer Thea Musgrave is 90 today, 27 May 2018. She is one of Britain’s most distinguished composers of classical music and opera; The Times said that she is “... the most gifted operatic composer [the United Kingdom] has produced since Britten”. She has written more than 160 works, including 13 operas, 11 choral works, and 21 orchestral works. The Financial … [Read more...]
Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
Last night a Gala to celebrate Rudolf Nureyev was had at La Scala. It is the 80th Anniversary of his birth and also 25 years after his death. The Gala was previewed by a benefit audience on Thursday, and opened Friday 25 May, with further performances on 26 and 29 May. La Scala's Étoiles Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle were joined by guests Marianela Nuñez, Germain Louvet, … [Read more...]
Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Today, La Scala announced a project to widen the knowledge and appreciation of Baroque music, in a country that has produced so much, yet now often overlooks a genre that is booming in other parts of the world. Cecilia Bartoli — who made a guest appearance last night at the end of Javier Camarena’s Italian debut concert as part of the Pavia Sacred Music Festival— will be … [Read more...]
Bartoli steps in as Villazon withdraws from closing gala at Salzburg Festival
The closing gala concert at Salzburg’s Whitsun Festival was to have featured the Festival’s director, Cecilia Bartoli, together with tenors Jonas Kaufmann and Rolando Villazón, and the Staatskapelle Berlin under the baton of Daniel Barenboim. A line up that almost justifies the more than €300 ticket price. Villazón cancelled at the last moment “for health reasons” leaving … [Read more...]
Le Corsaire docks at La Scala – many delights with a company on top form
Anna-Marie Holmes created her version of Le Corsaire for Boston ballet in 1997. A year later it arrived in New York when it was loaned out to the American Ballet Theatre. Italian dancer Giuseppe Picone played the romantic hero, Conrad, opposite Nina Ananiashvili as Medora. Holmes has mounted her version — and versions of her version! — from Hungary to Hong Kong, with … [Read more...]