The Hungarian conductor Henrik Nánási will be conducting Rusalka at the Bayerische Staatsoper from 14 May, but his international career, and wide-ranging repertoire, will soon see him taking off … [Read more...] about [Interview] Conductor Henrik Nánási – immersing himself in the music
interviews
Blake Works V – La Scala presents a new work from William Forsythe – “You can get a lot done with calm.”
William Forsythe returns to La Scala continuing his exploration of the musical output of British composer James Blake with Blake Works V, which runs from 10 to 30 May 2023. The programme is a suite of … [Read more...] about Blake Works V – La Scala presents a new work from William Forsythe – “You can get a lot done with calm.”
[Interview] Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev: Music is not politics
Guest author Alisa Alekseeva talks to Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev Russian opera singer Aleksei Isaev regularly sings at the major European theatres. Last month he finished a run of performances … [Read more...] about [Interview] Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev: Music is not politics
[Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
The current run of Les contes d’Hoffmann at La Scala sees soprano Eleonora Buratto making her debut as Antonia. After the opening night, I asked her how she was settling into her new role. It's a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
Interview with Ethan Stiefel as his American Repertory Ballet arrives in New York
Ethan Stiefel, who was Principal Dancer with both New York City Ballet and then American Ballet Theatre in 1997 (by way of Ballett Zürich), gave his farewell performance at ABT in 2012. Since then … [Read more...] about Interview with Ethan Stiefel as his American Repertory Ballet arrives in New York
La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
La Scala doesn’t ‘do’ Nutcrackers for Christmas. Its last two productions during the Christmas period were La Bayadère and Sylvia. It flirted briefly with a version of The Nutcracker by Nacho Duato in … [Read more...] about La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
[Interview] Royal Ballet’s Fumi Kaneko on her upcoming debut in Mayerling
The Royal Ballet’s long run of Mayerling proceeds with many debuts, including that of Fumi Kaneko who will be dancing Countess Larisch for the first time on 21 October. There are many other debuts … [Read more...] about [Interview] Royal Ballet’s Fumi Kaneko on her upcoming debut in Mayerling
[Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs
Cristina Pavarotti, 58, is Luciano Pavarotti’s second child, and will be in Los Angeles on 24 August for the positioning her father’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the accompanying … [Read more...] about [Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs
[Interview] Rolando Villazón: My enemy was anxiety.
Rolando Villazón works now as a writer, an artistic director, and director, with singing talking a secondary role. “My enemy was anxiety, fragility, and a lack of confidence. It's not a question of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Rolando Villazón: My enemy was anxiety.
Breaking the LORE: Wayne McGregor on his new dance work at La Scala
More rehearsal photos below Today is the 140th anniversary of the birth of Igor Stravinsky, so what a perfect day to meet Wayne McGregor and find out more about his two-part Stravinsky programme … [Read more...] about Breaking the LORE: Wayne McGregor on his new dance work at La Scala
[Interview] Tenor Francesco Meli – 20 years of “not taking anything for granted”
Italian tenor Francesco Meli has a lot to celebrate. Last weekend he sang his last performance as Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera at La Scala – it is his 20th role at La Scala and this year also … [Read more...] about [Interview] Tenor Francesco Meli – 20 years of “not taking anything for granted”
Ukrainian ballerina Anna Muromtseva: Escaping from Kyiv
Anna Muromtseva is a principal dancer of the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv. She spoke to dancer and blogger Marta Molinari about her odyssey escaping from the bombing of Kyiv, where she lived and … [Read more...] about Ukrainian ballerina Anna Muromtseva: Escaping from Kyiv
Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala, on the new streaming service, Russia, and audiences
Well, we have a profit of €300,000 - says Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala - Of course, there were surprises during the year and in September the theatre was still not open at full capacity, so could … [Read more...] about Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala, on the new streaming service, Russia, and audiences
[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”
When I was three, I was already living out stories in my head and had the feeling of another reality calling me. Even though my parents didn't go to the theatre, I said, “I want to go to dance … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”
[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part one: “The voice of the soul is immense”
Alessandra Ferri has had a long career – albeit interrupted for six years when she retired – though ‘career’ is a word she doesn’t like. It implies a job more than a vocation. It implies a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part one: “The voice of the soul is immense”
[Interview] Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi Ballet – Everyone must deal with their conscience
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper, Olga Smirnova – the courageously outspoken Bolshoi star who has left Russia to join the Dutch National Ballet – talked about her bold … [Read more...] about [Interview] Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi Ballet – Everyone must deal with their conscience
[Interview] “Me and my voice” American tenor Michael Fabiano on music and other passions
American tenor Michael Fabiano will make an important role debut and house debut on 22 March when he sings Calaf in Turandot at the Rome Opera. “I’ve been preparing it for years,” he told me. “Many … [Read more...] about [Interview] “Me and my voice” American tenor Michael Fabiano on music and other passions
Touché! Les Étoiles gala features a homosexual pas de deux
The Les Ètoiles gala in Rome (30 and 31 January 2022) will present some usual gala fare with the Don Quixote and Swan Lake pas de deux, and as always with this annual event there will be contemporary … [Read more...] about Touché! Les Étoiles gala features a homosexual pas de deux
Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star
It’s full steam ahead for The Royal Ballet’s Anna Rose O’Sullivan. Last year she was promoted to the rank of principal dancer with the company, in January of this year she made her debut as the Sugar … [Read more...] about Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star
[Interview] Choreographer Hervé Koubi – If we can dance together, we can live together
The Hervé Koubi Company recently brought three works to Milan, which I described as being “touching, theatrical and important”. It is the essence of Hervé Koubi’s creative output, producing dance … [Read more...] about [Interview] Choreographer Hervé Koubi – If we can dance together, we can live together
Taming Our Trauma – creating inclusive and tolerant spaces for dancers
Principal dancer István Simon is a man with a mission. He founded Praetorian Non-Profit Art and Health Consulting and the project Taming Our Trauma “with the aim to enable a safe and creative … [Read more...] about Taming Our Trauma – creating inclusive and tolerant spaces for dancers
[Interview] Baritone Sebastian Catana: never scream or shout
Romanian-born baritone Sebastian Catana is well-known for his Verdi roles, but he has recently made his debut as Tonio in Pagliacci in Verona’s Arena to great acclaim, and now he’s singing the part at … [Read more...] about [Interview] Baritone Sebastian Catana: never scream or shout
Sergei Polunin: 700 years of inferno, purgatory and paradise
The Ravenna Festival has commissioned a new dance piece, Dante Metànoia, with choreography for Purgatory by Sergei Polunin, Inferno by Ross Freddie Ray and Paradiso by Jiří Bubeníček. The sole dancer … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin: 700 years of inferno, purgatory and paradise
Soprano Katia Ricciarelli to be contestant in Big Brother TV reality show
Katia Ricciarelli will be one of the contestants in the new series of Italy’s Grande fratello VIP. It’s not her first experience in such a programme, having participated in La fattoria (The Farm) in … [Read more...] about Soprano Katia Ricciarelli to be contestant in Big Brother TV reality show
Juan Diego Flórez interview: my 25 years with Rossini
Twenty-five years ago, Gramilano met a young Peruvian tenor in Milan. He was on his way to sing a small role in 'Ricciardo e Zoraide' at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and was bright-eyed with … [Read more...] about Juan Diego Flórez interview: my 25 years with Rossini
Ballet22 – mxn en pointe
Lockdowns have been crippling for dancers and dance companies, but many have eagerly sought out silver linings and the enforced time out has given opportunities for reflection and reinvention. A … [Read more...] about Ballet22 – mxn en pointe
Riccardo Muti interview, part two: Pavarotti, communication, politics and music’s meaning
Riccardo Muti interview for his 80th birthday, part two You don't work for success, or the amount of applause and number of newspaper articles; you do it because you understand that our profession … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti interview, part two: Pavarotti, communication, politics and music’s meaning
Riccardo Muti interview: life, death, and the lack of seriousness
On the eve of his 80th birthday on 28 July, Riccardo Muti gave an exceptionally long interview to the Corriere della Sera’s Aldo Cazzullo. Here are some highlights. I'm tired of life, because this … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti interview: life, death, and the lack of seriousness
Roberto Bolle interview: Who I am now
Beginnings My physique could have led me to sport or cinema, but my passion for dance showed itself at an early age. When I was three years old, I would watch dance on television and try to copy … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle interview: Who I am now
Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre
Makhar Vaziev, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet company, talks about some of the most discussed problems in ballet today, as well as wanting a third theatre in Moscow for the Bolshoi opera and … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre
