I’ve always been interested in how some theatrical works survive the years, and some do not. Giacomo Meyerbeer, for example, was probably the most famous opera composer of the middle years of the 19th … [Read more...] about The lonely father – Jonathan Gray reviews a new biography of the choreographer John Cranko
books
Acosta Danza: Fusion – a new glossy dance book
A new illustrated dance book, Acosta Danza: Fusion, has just been released in the UK and soon will be available in the US and elsewhere. My idea behind Acosta Danza is to summarise the fusion that … [Read more...] about Acosta Danza: Fusion – a new glossy dance book
[Interview] Tears of a Ballet Mum – Sabine Naghdi on her ballerina daughter, Yasmine
Tears of a Ballet Mum is a new memoir by Sabine Naghdi, mother of The Royal Ballet’s principal ballerina Yasmine Naghdi. Ballet mum? Sabine, I’m shuddering just thinking about it! One … [Read more...] about [Interview] Tears of a Ballet Mum – Sabine Naghdi on her ballerina daughter, Yasmine
Dancing Words – Roberto Bolle talks about his new book
Parole che danzano (Dancing Words) – Roberto Bolle's new book Over the years, there have been several coffee table books dedicated to the career and physique of Roberto Bolle. Parole che danzano … [Read more...] about Dancing Words – Roberto Bolle talks about his new book
The new Royal Opera House Pocket Photobook
The Royal Opera House is one of the world’s leading performing arts venues, so there is naturally much interest in the production of the performances. The new Pocket Photo Book from Thames & … [Read more...] about The new Royal Opera House Pocket Photobook
Amici della Scala celebrates Carla Fracci’s 80th birthday and Anna Crespi’s latest book
The indefatigable Anna Crespi, founder of the Amici della Scala association (Friends of La Scala), organised a party to celebrate Carla Fracci’s 80th birthday at the organisation’s beautiful base … [Read more...] about Amici della Scala celebrates Carla Fracci’s 80th birthday and Anna Crespi’s latest book
Carlos Acosta at The Royal Ballet: celebrating 17 years
Carlos Acosta at The Royal Ballet is a new book to celebrate Carlos Acosta’s 17 year career with The Royal Ballet from 1998 – 2015. The book, which captures some of his greatest performances as … [Read more...] about Carlos Acosta at The Royal Ballet: celebrating 17 years
Roberto Bolle celebrates his 40th birthday with a tour and book
Today Roberto Bolle turns forty, and he has announced both his summer Bolle and Friends tour and the publication of a new book. The 2015 tour will see the Bolle caravan arrive in Los Angeles at the … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle celebrates his 40th birthday with a tour and book
Call Me Debbie: the Down-to-Earth Diva Deborah Voigt tells all
In January next year, Deborah Voigt’s "strikingly honest memoir" will be published by HarperCollins entitled Call Me Debbie: True Confessions of a Down-to-Earth Diva. The press release … [Read more...] about Call Me Debbie: the Down-to-Earth Diva Deborah Voigt tells all
Carla Fracci’s autobiography: Step After Step
Based on a long series of conversations with Enrico Rotelli, Passo dopo passo (Step After Step) is Carla Fracci telling her story in her own words. From a simple childhood during the war to the … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci’s autobiography: Step After Step
Leonard Slatkin explains the Conducting Business
Leonard Slatkin's gloriously entertaining and informative book, Conducting Business, is subtitled Unveiling the Mystery Behind the Maestro, and that is exactly what his book does, with wit, acute … [Read more...] about Leonard Slatkin explains the Conducting Business
Mikhail Baryshnikov helps achieve the dream of Russian poet Josef Brodsky
Nobel prize-winning poet Josef Brodsky and ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov were good friends. Really good friends. Brodsky hated calling Baryshnikov 'Mikhail' or 'Misha' so he called him 'Mysh': … [Read more...] about Mikhail Baryshnikov helps achieve the dream of Russian poet Josef Brodsky
The Man I Love – was George Gershwin gay?
Michael Feinstein’s book on the Gershwins called, sensibly, “The Gershwins and Me” (Simon & Schuster) was published in October. While he was still working in piano bars, Feinstein got to know Ira … [Read more...] about The Man I Love – was George Gershwin gay?
Carlos Acosta’s (untitled) first novel to be published by Bloomsbury
Carlos Acosta has written a novel, set in Cuba, and includes a section set duing the 1950s revolution. It will be published by Bloomsbury in 2013. Bill Swainson, senior commissioning editor at … [Read more...] about Carlos Acosta’s (untitled) first novel to be published by Bloomsbury
Dexter author concerned that people think his creation is ‘nice’
Jeff Lindsay, creator of serial killer Dexter, talking at Marseille's Semaine Noire book festival, said, Some believe that Dexter cares about justice. Dexter doesn't care about justice, he cares … [Read more...] about Dexter author concerned that people think his creation is ‘nice’
Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano wins courage award
Italian author Roberto Saviano, who has been in hiding since writing an expose about the Naples mafia, has won the Pen/Pinter International writer of courage award. His 2006 book Gomorrah explores the … [Read more...] about Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano wins courage award
Maurice Sendak: Being gay in the old days was hard, being gay later was weird.
Maurice Sendak, creator of Where the Wild Things Are, which has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide, is 83 and walks with a stick (“It’s for hitting people”). Sendak has not published a book … [Read more...] about Maurice Sendak: Being gay in the old days was hard, being gay later was weird.
The Royal Ballet’s Deborah Bull: ‘ There is no reason for any of us to be missing lunch’
On the publication of Deborah Bull's new book The Everyday Dancer she talked to The Observer's Kate Kellaway. Here are some of her words: On family It was a singing and dancing family… My mum was … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet’s Deborah Bull: ‘ There is no reason for any of us to be missing lunch’
The Telegraph’s Harry Mount on Alan Hollinghurst’s “shocking” omission from the Man Booker Prize shortlist
It’s not just because Hollinghurst was the favourite that his failure to make the shortlist is so shocking. He is the finest British novelist of his era, and his production rate is relatively low – … [Read more...] about The Telegraph’s Harry Mount on Alan Hollinghurst’s “shocking” omission from the Man Booker Prize shortlist
David Hare wins Pinter literary prize
Playwright Sir David Hare has been awarded this year's Pen/Pinter Prize, it has been announced. The award, set up by the writers' charity Pen in memory of playwright Harold Pinter, is given to a … [Read more...] about David Hare wins Pinter literary prize
Alan Bennett on the importance of local libraries
With cuts threatening to cull hundreds of local libraries in Britain, author Alan Bennett talks of their importance in the London Review of Books: I have always been happy in libraries, though … [Read more...] about Alan Bennett on the importance of local libraries
The signature on Oriana Fallaci’s will disputed
The signature on Oriana Fallaci's will is a forgery, the late writer's sister has said, thrusting a family feud into the courts. The Florence Prosecutor's office this week began investigating Paola … [Read more...] about The signature on Oriana Fallaci’s will disputed
Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”
Lovers of Hollinghurst's writing have been waiting a long time for the end of June 2011 and the publication of his new novel. In fact, the wait has been seven years, but now we know that it was worth … [Read more...] about Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”
Cecil Beaton celebrated in a new volume from the Amici della Scala
The Amici della Scala have added another 4 volumes to their collection of illustrated mini-books on the Teatro alla Scala and its collaborators. The complete collection now numbers 36 … [Read more...] about Cecil Beaton celebrated in a new volume from the Amici della Scala
Time magazine chooses 140 Best Twitter Feeds – Margaret Atwood is a surprising twitterer
There's Bieber and Gaga, but there's also Atwood. A sample tweet: True, if someone nicks my socks they are still 'mine.' I just can't wear them. Thus unenforceable copyrights." It's a shame that … [Read more...] about Time magazine chooses 140 Best Twitter Feeds – Margaret Atwood is a surprising twitterer
So Emily Bronte didn’t have **** in mind after all? Andrew McCarthy, director of the Bronte Parsonage Museum replies…
The BBC's new version of Wuthering Heights for the radio has got everyone talking. Something of a first for a radio transmission. Apart from notable exception such as the havoc caused by Orson Welles' … [Read more...] about So Emily Bronte didn’t have **** in mind after all? Andrew McCarthy, director of the Bronte Parsonage Museum replies…
“I Was a Dancer” – Jacques d’Amboise’s new autobiography – is exuberantly dishy, yet unkind to no one.
The Wall Street Journal finishes its rave review of d'Amboise's recollections with these words: One of Mr. d'Amboise's nicknames in the company was "Daisy," because he was "always optimistic and … [Read more...] about “I Was a Dancer” – Jacques d’Amboise’s new autobiography – is exuberantly dishy, yet unkind to no one.
Apollo’s Angels, the new book on ballet has got everyone talking
Jennifer Homans is a historian and critic who was also a professional dancer: She brings to Apollo’s Angels a knowledge of dance born of dedicated practice. She traces the evolution of technique, … [Read more...] about Apollo’s Angels, the new book on ballet has got everyone talking
