La Scala has announced that performances from today onwards are cancelled in light of the coronavirus threat. Tonight there was to have been a recital by soprano Aleksandra Kurzak. Italia has 130 people under observation or ill, and in the Lombardy region, where Milan is the capital, there are 93 cases. The situation has worsened dramatically in the last 48 hours. Some … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels performances due to coronavirus outbreaks
music & opera
Photo Album: Mirella Freni at La Scala
Mirella Freni sang at La Scala from 1962 until 1996 (an account of those years, with comments by Mirella Freni, is here). La Scala issued a statement, which reads: The news of Mirella Freni’s passing has deeply moved all the workers, the musicians, and the management of the La Scala Theatre. Before the performance of Il Trovatore on Sunday, February 9, there will be a … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Mirella Freni at La Scala
Mirella Freni dies at 84
Mirella Freni, who would have been 85 on 27 February, has died at her home in Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. She had been fighting an illness for a long while and died surrounded by friends and family. Her coffin will be placed in Modena's Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti on the morning of Wednesday 12 February, and the funeral will be held in the … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni dies at 84
Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
The conductor Nello Santi has died at 88. He last worked at La Scala in November 2017, when he was 86, conducting Nabucco. He was born in 1931 in Adria in the Veneto region. He was the director of Zurich Opera from 1958 to 1969. In 1960, Santi conducted the Wiener Philharmoniker for Don Carlo in Salzburg with Boris Christoff and Ettore Bastianini. At The Royal Opera House in … [Read more...] about Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
Photo Album: First night at La Scala with Netrebko, Meli and Salsi in Tosca
Conductor Riccardo Chailly Staging Davide Livermore Sets Giò Forma Costumes Gianluca Falaschi Lights Antonio Castro Video D-wok CAST Tosca Anna Netrebko Cavaradossi Francesco Meli Scarpia Luca Salsi Angelotti Carlo Cigni Sagrestano Alfonso Antoniozzi Spoletta Carlo Bosi Sciarrone Giulio Mastrototaro Carceriere Ernesto … [Read more...] about Photo Album: First night at La Scala with Netrebko, Meli and Salsi in Tosca
Colleagues support Vittorio Grigolo as he replies to being fired by the Royal Opera House and the Met
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
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
