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- dance, opera, photography...

music & opera

Jakub Józef Orliński‘s new album ‘Beyond’ with music by early baroque composers

1 October 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jakub Józef Orliński - Beyond-01

Jakub Józef Orliński‘s sixth project with Erato features music by early baroque composers, including Monteverdi, Caccini, Frescobaldi, Kapsberger, Saracini, Netti, and Jarzębski. Musicologist Yannis … [Read more...] about Jakub Józef Orliński‘s new album ‘Beyond’ with music by early baroque composers

[Interview] Soprano Benedetta Torre – La Scala’s newest Susanna

30 September 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Benedetta Torre, photo by Mattia di Pasquale crop

Young soprano Benedetta Torre will be Susanna in the revival of Giorgio Strehler’s renowned production of Le nozze di Figaro at La Scala in Milan, which opens tonight, 30 September 2024. Torre, who … [Read more...] about [Interview] Soprano Benedetta Torre – La Scala’s newest Susanna

Prison cancels opera about violent gangster and gay composer Ivor Novello

4 September 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

1944 - Home Fires

An opera about gangster ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser and the composer Ivor Novello, both jailed in Wormwood Scrubs prison in 1944, was due to be staged at the prison tomorrow but has been cancelled with four … [Read more...] about Prison cancels opera about violent gangster and gay composer Ivor Novello

[Interview] Cecilia Bartoli on her voice, technique, and the obsolete CD

2 September 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Cecilia Bartoli - Farinelli e il suo tempo, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Firenze

The voice is the instrument closest to the soul. It is the most fragile, but also the most powerful. It is the only instrument that is inside us and those of us who use it for singing have a strange … [Read more...] about [Interview] Cecilia Bartoli on her voice, technique, and the obsolete CD

Matthew Lee, Andrea Mingardi and Matia Bazar in Liguria

26 August 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Matthew Lee

Ceriale, a small town on the Ligurian coast, halfway between Genoa and Montecarlo, has often offered tepid summertime entertainment – concerts, plays, stand-up comedy – in its piazzas on the seafront. … [Read more...] about Matthew Lee, Andrea Mingardi and Matia Bazar in Liguria

Rossini Opera Festival 2024

25 August 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Eduardo and Cristina, Rossini Opera Festival 2023

The Petite messe solennelle conducted by Michele Mariotti closed the 44th edition of the Rossini Opera Festival. There were 40 events on the programme, including performances and meetings. This … [Read more...] about Rossini Opera Festival 2024

A 131-CD collection to celebrate Maria Callas’ 100th birthday

23 August 2023 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Maria Callas in Paris, December 1958 crop

To celebrate the 100th birthday of Maria Callas, Warner Classics will release La Divina: Maria Callas in all her roles on 22 September 2023. The massive 131-CD collection is the most comprehensive … [Read more...] about A 131-CD collection to celebrate Maria Callas’ 100th birthday

Renata Scotto dies at 89

16 August 2023 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Renata-Scotto

Savona, 24 February 1934 – 16 August 2023 Renata Scotto died during the night at the age of 89. After retiring from singing – though she directed operas and taught masterclasses until recently – … [Read more...] about Renata Scotto dies at 89

Olga Peretyatko answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition!

13 August 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Olga Peretyatko

Q&A When did you start singing?   My father is an opera singer – he still sings in the chorus – so when I was a little, I was always in the theatre! My first solo performance was at … [Read more...] about Olga Peretyatko answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition!

Countertenor David Daniels pleads guilty to sexual assault

6 August 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

David Daniels by Simon Pauly

A surprise start to the David Daniels trial in Houston came about when his lawyer announced to the judge that there was a new offer that he wanted to discuss with his client. An hour later they were … [Read more...] about Countertenor David Daniels pleads guilty to sexual assault

Anna Netrebko sues the Met for $360,000

5 August 2023 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Anna Netrebko photo Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

Anna Netrebko filed a lawsuit in the US district court in Manhattan yesterday, Friday 4 August, against the Metropolitan Opera. Her lawyers are seeking $360,000 in compensation after all future … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko sues the Met for $360,000

San Francisco Opera’s free ‘In Song’ video portrait series

29 July 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Pablo Estigarribia, Daniela Mack and JP Jofre crop

San Francisco Opera’s In Song video portrait series continues with its eighth episode, In Song: Daniela Mack. Other episodes featuring sopranos Amina Edris, Meigui Zhang and Pretty Yende; … [Read more...] about San Francisco Opera’s free ‘In Song’ video portrait series

[Interview] Cecilia Gasdìa – I replaced Caballé in Anna Bolena when I was 21… I was crazy

21 July 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Cecilia-Gasdia-in-1982-preparing-for-Anna-Bolena

Soprano Cecilia Gasdìa is the director of Verona's Arena Opera Festival, its season now in full swing. The 62-year-old was born in Verona, so it has been a coming home for her since she took over as … [Read more...] about [Interview] Cecilia Gasdìa – I replaced Caballé in Anna Bolena when I was 21… I was crazy

[Review] Carlo il Calvo – Fagioli, Lezhneva and Cenčić give explosive performances in Porpora’s opera

2 July 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Julia Lezhneva and Franco Fagioli, photo by Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

Carlo il Calvo? The name appears in small italics in some booklets of CDs of Baroque arias, so I’d vaguely heard of it. But there it was, as a concert performance in La Scala’s season calendar. If I … [Read more...] about [Review] Carlo il Calvo – Fagioli, Lezhneva and Cenčić give explosive performances in Porpora’s opera

Soirée Rachmaninoff – dance and music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great composer

30 June 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Riva and Repele in rehearsal, photo by Mongelli

The double anniversary of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), 150 years after his birth and 80 years after his death, is being celebrated all over the world. A tribute called Soirée … [Read more...] about Soirée Rachmaninoff – dance and music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great composer

New production of Verdi’s Aida opens 100th edition of Verona Arena Opera Festival

6 June 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Set design, Verona Aida 2023 by Stefano Poda

Transparent pyramids and architectural lighting will feature in the new production of Aida for the 100th edition of the Verona Arena Opera Festival – a production that is technological but intimate … [Read more...] about New production of Verdi’s Aida opens 100th edition of Verona Arena Opera Festival

Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci to become Principal Guest Conductor at the Royal Opera

5 June 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Speranza Scappucci - Ian Ehm - 2022

The Royal Opera House has announced that Speranza Scappucci will become Principal Guest Conductor of The Royal Opera. She will take up the position in September 2025, at the start of the 2025-2026 … [Read more...] about Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci to become Principal Guest Conductor at the Royal Opera

Darell Moulton – piano expert and singing teacher – has died at the age of 79

2 June 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Darell Moulton

Darell Moulton, one of the UK’s top piano experts and singing teachers, has died at the age of 79 after living with motor neurone disease. Darell was an extraordinary human being who I was proud to … [Read more...] about Darell Moulton – piano expert and singing teacher – has died at the age of 79

Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, Rising, is out tomorrow

1 June 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lawrence Brownlee, Rising

Rising, Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, sees the tenor commission six of today’s leading African American composers to set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song. Warner Classics releases the album … [Read more...] about Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, Rising, is out tomorrow

The Florence opera house to sell its vast archive to avoid closure

31 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

The Maggio Musicale in Florence may sell off its large archive in a desperate attempt to find €8.5m by July, part of a huge debt left behind after Alexander Pereira resigned last February. Without … [Read more...] about The Florence opera house to sell its vast archive to avoid closure

La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024

29 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Don Pasquale, photo Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

The 2023-2024 Opera Season of the Teatro alla Scala will present 14 productions, 10 of which are new: 2 operas by Giuseppe Verdi and 2 by Giacomo Puccini, and one opera each by Antonio Cesti, Luigi … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024

Gustavo Dudamel to leave the Paris Opera at end of 22/23 season

25 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Concert Gustav Mahler - Liceu de Barcelone, photo by Paco Amate 2022

The Paris Opera has announced that Gustavo Dudamel will resign as Music Director at the end of the 2022/2023 season for personal reasons. It is with a heavy heart, and after long consideration, … [Read more...] about Gustavo Dudamel to leave the Paris Opera at end of 22/23 season

Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season

24 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Message in a Bottle hero image - Johan_Persson_

The Royal Opera House has announced its next Cinema Season with 13 productions, eight of which will be broadcast to screens around the world. The season begins in September when Music Director of … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season

[Interview] Riccardo Frizza conducts the Verdi Requiem on the 150th anniversary of Manzoni’s death

19 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Riccardo Frizza, photo by Simone Falcetta, crop

Alessandro Manzoni died in Milan on 22 May 1873, 150 years ago. The Milanese poet, novelist and philosopher is famous for his novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed, 1827), which is full of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Riccardo Frizza conducts the Verdi Requiem on the 150th anniversary of Manzoni’s death

[Interview] Conductor Henrik Nánási – immersing himself in the music

12 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Henrik Nánási by Gunnar Geller, crop

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

The bizarre story of Italian opera house musical chairs – Meyer, Fuortes, Lissner

9 May 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Meyer, Fuortes, Lissner

An Italian story… Carlo Fuortes was brought in to manage the Rome Opera House at Christmas in 2013 when the theatre was on the verge of closing with a €32m debt. He overhauled the working practices … [Read more...] about The bizarre story of Italian opera house musical chairs – Meyer, Fuortes, Lissner

[Interview] Russian baritone Aleksei Isaev: Music is not politics

19 April 2023 by Alisa Alekseeva 1 Comment

Aleksei Isaev

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

29 March 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Eleonora Buratto, photo by Dario Acosta crop

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

An interview with soprano Virginia Zeani, 1925 – 2023

22 March 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Virginia Zeani:  21 October 1925 – 20 March 2023 In 2015, when the soprano Virginia Zeani was 90, I was asked to interview her, and we enjoyed (yes, we laughed a lot) a long video call where … [Read more...] about An interview with soprano Virginia Zeani, 1925 – 2023

[Review] Gian Carlo Menotti celebrated in Italy with The Medium and The Telephone

13 March 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Medium with Manuela Custer and Maria Eleonora Caminada, photo by M.I.

The Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti is celebrated far more outside Italy than in his homeland, with his works being especially popular in the US. The (in)famous Italian critic Paolo Isotta wrote … [Read more...] about [Review] Gian Carlo Menotti celebrated in Italy with The Medium and The Telephone

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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