The Royal Opera House has announced its decision to fire 42-year-old tenor Vittorio Grigolo after an independent enquiry about his conduct in Japan – which resulted in a ‘brawl’ – when he was with the Royal Opera on tour (read here, here and here): Following an independent investigation into an incident involving Vittorio Grigolo in Tokyo in September, the ROH has concluded … [Read more...] about Colleagues support Vittorio Grigolo as he replies to being fired by the Royal Opera House and the Met
music & opera
Jonas Kaufmann: A Picture Journey – a glorious new book celebrates the tenor’s 50th birthday in photos
Jonas Kaufmann was 50 on 10 July this year. To celebrate, the esteemed Vienna-based publishing house Verlag für moderne Kunst has produced – in collaboration with Kaufmann – a glorious picture book with more than 400 photos, (including one photo by Gramilano, of Kaufmann on bended knee), and many are published for the first time. 99 photographers from four continents have … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann: A Picture Journey – a glorious new book celebrates the tenor’s 50th birthday in photos
Interview with Anna Netrebko on Tosca at La Scala: kissing, killing, and Kabaivanska
Anna Netrebko opens the new season at La Scala – as each year, on 7 December – as Tosca. It will be her fourth time in what is always a prestigious occasion (Italy’s President and other dignitaries will be present) after heading new productions of Andrea Chénier, Giovanna d’Arco, and Don Giovanni. With the ultra-critical ‘loggionisiti’ watching over from the gods, it is always … [Read more...] about Interview with Anna Netrebko on Tosca at La Scala: kissing, killing, and Kabaivanska
Francesco Lanzillotta answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition
Q&A When did you start playing an instrument? I was 6 years old, and I started to study cello. Why did you start playing? My father is a cellist and my mother loves music, so that is why I started to study cello so young. Which musicians inspired you most when you were young? Stravinsky, Kleiber, Bernstein, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Otis Redding. Which musicians … [Read more...] about Francesco Lanzillotta answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition
Federico Longhi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? When I was 6, in the chorus of my hometown in the Valle d’Aosta. A lady in my parish, Rita, invited me to sing and I was so happy... I looked forward to the rehearsals! When I was 16 I began to study at the conservatoire, and after that I met legendary baritone Giuseppe Valdengo, who became my voice teacher. Why did you start singing? I … [Read more...] about Federico Longhi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Dancing Times features a countertenor on its cover: Jakub Józef Orliński talks about breakdancing
The cover for the November issue of Dancing Times features countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński. I interviewed him a couple of days before his Glyndebourne Festival debut singing the title role in Handel's Rinaldo. He's also a b-boy, a breakdancer, and breaking gives him mental as well as physical benefits. In his first major interview about dancing, he explains why he needs to … [Read more...] about Dancing Times features a countertenor on its cover: Jakub Józef Orliński talks about breakdancing
Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure
With Rolando Panerai we lose a star of opera that we will not see the like of again, and many of his performances have shaped the history of La Scala’s opera house. La Scala left these words today, reflecting on the career of the great baritone, who died on Tuesday at 95. Maybe some of Panerai's most memorable performances at La Scala were in Lucia di Lammermoor with Callas … [Read more...] about Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure
Photo Album – first look at La Scala’s new production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare
Handel's Giulio Cesare A first look at La Scala's new production of Handel's Giulio Cesare (opening 18 October 2019) with a staging by Robert Carsen. With this new production La Scala inaugurates a Baroque project, which will continue in the coming years with two other titles by Handel: Agrippina and Ariodante. Giulio Cesare in Egitto has only been staged once at La … [Read more...] about Photo Album – first look at La Scala’s new production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare
On Site Opera presents Britten’s The Turn of the Screw at the stunning Wave Hill estate in the Bronx
On Site Opera will present Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, at Wave Hill, a stunning 28-acre historic estate and now public gardens in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, from 25 to 27 October 2019. This operatic ghost story is perhaps the perfect piece to benefit from an immersive production. Its story will unfold in various locations around the estate, both indoors … [Read more...] about On Site Opera presents Britten’s The Turn of the Screw at the stunning Wave Hill estate in the Bronx
Hui He answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
When did you start singing? I always loved to sing since I was a child. I sang on every occasion, also during public events at school, where my maths teacher heard me and advised me to take singing lesson with her neighbour who was a voice teacher. He listened me, and he told me that I was ready to attend the conservatoire in Xi’an, my city. I went there, in few years I became … [Read more...] about Hui He answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
