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music & opera

[Interview] In conversation with Italian tenor Piero Pretti as he returns to La Scala for another debut

28 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Piero Pretti crop

A new production of I Vespri Siciliani by Argentinian director Hugo de Ana – who has also designed the sets and costumes – opens at La Scala this evening, 28 January 2023. The performance will be … [Read more...] about [Interview] In conversation with Italian tenor Piero Pretti as he returns to La Scala for another debut

Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan

14 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Otello 1976 photo by Erio Piccagliani 01

Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence on 12 January 1923. Teatro alla Scala anticipates the celebration of the great director's centenary with the exhibition “Franco Zeffirelli - The La Scala Years" … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan

In Memoriam 2022: Singers, Dancers, Actors, Writers, Directors

31 December 2022 by Gramilano 4 Comments

in memoriam 2022

In memoriam 2022: a personal list of some of the artists the world lost in 2022 NameDatesAgeDescriptionMax Riebl26 June 1991 - 30 April 202230Australian countertenorOleksandr Shapoval9 … [Read more...] about In Memoriam 2022: Singers, Dancers, Actors, Writers, Directors

1.5 million television spectators for Boris Godunov at La Scala

8 December 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, mayors and ministers

An opera in Russian, with a 6pm starting time, attracted one and a half million viewers (over 9% of the share) on Italian television. Certainly something of a success for La Scala's season opening … [Read more...] about 1.5 million television spectators for Boris Godunov at La Scala

La Scala’s glitzy season opening with Boris Godunov: Protests, Putin and politicians

7 December 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

03 - Scenes from a rehearsal of Boris Godunov at La Scala on 11 November 2022, photo by Brescia e Amisano crop

This evening the curtain goes up at La Scala on the opera to open the season, Boris Godunov. Ukrainians asked for the Russian opera to be replaced. Then the idea emerged that the opera could be … [Read more...] about La Scala’s glitzy season opening with Boris Godunov: Protests, Putin and politicians

Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov on Boris Godunov, his 89th performance at La Scala

6 December 2022 by Gramilano 7 Comments

09 - Scenes from a rehearsal of Boris Godunov at La Scala on 11 November 2022, photo by Brescia e Amisano crop

The Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov will be Boris Godunov for the opening of Milan’s opera season on 7 December 2022. It will be Abdrazakov’s 89th appearance on La Scala’s stage and his seventh time … [Read more...] about Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov on Boris Godunov, his 89th performance at La Scala

[Review] Italian countertenor Raffaele Pe’s exuberant Purcell recital

3 December 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

RAFFAELE PE

Italian countertenor Raffaele Pe has had somewhat of a slow-burning career. He’s now 37 and a father of three, yet his first professional engagement was just eight years ago. The late start seems to … [Read more...] about [Review] Italian countertenor Raffaele Pe’s exuberant Purcell recital

Michael Fabiano’s ArtSmart online auction to raise funds for youth music education

28 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

All My Soul is Here - a portrait of Michael Fabiano by Sal Jones crop

ArtSmart was started in 2015, founded by the opera singers Michael Fabiano and John Viscardi. Its aim is to “transform the lives of youth in under-resourced communities across the United States” … [Read more...] about Michael Fabiano’s ArtSmart online auction to raise funds for youth music education

Raffaele Pe answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

24 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Raffaele Pe, photo by Nicola Allegri_crop

Q&A When did you start singing? I never started – I just did it! Why did you start singing? I cannot imagine human life without, as Plato would say… Which singer inspired you most … [Read more...] about Raffaele Pe answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Ukrainian children’s choir rehearses in a bomb shelter before its New York concert

19 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Shchedryk Choir

The Shchedryk Children’s Choir from Ukraine has been rehearsing in a bomb shelter for its concert at Carnegie Hall in New York in December. After the recent increase in missile strikes in Kyiv the … [Read more...] about Ukrainian children’s choir rehearses in a bomb shelter before its New York concert

[Review] Cecilia Bartoli is Alcina in Florence, displaying the pinnacle of her art

9 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

05 - Alcina - photo by Michele Monasta, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

TitleAlcinaCompanyMaggio Musicale FiorentinoVenueTeatro del MaggioDate26 October 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence has restaged Cecilia Bartoli’s 2019 Salzburg hit, … [Read more...] about [Review] Cecilia Bartoli is Alcina in Florence, displaying the pinnacle of her art

Dischi Fenice – a hidden jewel in the heart of Florence, for music and…

4 November 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Dischi Fenice, Florence 2

A Google search will tell you that Dischi Fenice is a ‘record store’, but it is so much more than that. One of a disappearing breed of shops, it sells CDs, LPs and DVDs, it’s true, but it is also … [Read more...] about Dischi Fenice – a hidden jewel in the heart of Florence, for music and…

Angelina Jolie to play Maria Callas in biopic

24 October 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Maria Callas in 1960, photo Teatro alla Scala

Angelina Jolie will play Maria Callas in a film by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín, known for the 2021 film Spencer, one of several of his Oscar-nominated films The biopic will focus on Callas’s … [Read more...] about Angelina Jolie to play Maria Callas in biopic

[Review] The Met’s Medea – a tour de force performance from Radvanovsky

13 October 2022 by Jonathan Gray 6 Comments

Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role of Cherubinis Medea Photo by Marty Sohl–Met Opera

Guest author Jonathan Gray sees the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Medea TitleMedeaCompanyThe Metropolitan OperaVenueMetropolitan Opera House, Lincoln CenterDate8 October … [Read more...] about [Review] The Met’s Medea – a tour de force performance from Radvanovsky

The Met: Live at Home – new streaming platform makes opera simulcasts available at home

13 October 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lawrence Brownlee as Tamino and Erin Morley as Pamina in Mozarts Die Zauberflote Photo by Zenith Richards Met Opera

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the launch of The Met: Live at Home, a streaming platform that allows audiences to watch the Met’s series of live streams from any device in the comfort of their … [Read more...] about The Met: Live at Home – new streaming platform makes opera simulcasts available at home

Royal Opera House Stream goes live with 130 titles

4 October 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Vadim Muntagirov in rehearsal for Live from Covent Garden 20 June 2020 c 2020 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton

The Royal Opera House has launched a streaming service that offers 45 performances from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera’s archives. Together with these are also 85 behind-the-scenes features, … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House Stream goes live with 130 titles

Ferruccio Furlanetto awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal

27 September 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ferruccio Furlanetto presented with the San Francisco Opera Medal by General Director Matthew Shilvock following Eugene Onegin on September 25, 2022. Photo by Stefan Cohen, San Francisco Opera

Immediately following the opening performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin on 25 September, Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, who sang the role of Prince Gremin, was presented with the San … [Read more...] about Ferruccio Furlanetto awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal

La Scala in città – Milan’s opera house offers five days of free events

20 September 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

La Scala in città - corps de ballet at the Bagni Misteriosi, photo Brescia e Amisano,Teatro alla Scala

La Scala continues with its successful project to decentralise performances, scattering the orchestra, chorus, corps de ballet and its ballet school students in various locations around Milan – and it … [Read more...] about La Scala in città – Milan’s opera house offers five days of free events

San Francisco Opera releases historic audio recordings

13 September 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

1932 La Traviata, with Richard Bonell, Gaetano Merola, Claudia Muzio, Armando Agnini, Dino Borgioli, photo by Mortor

As part of its centennial celebrations, San Francisco Opera has released the first instalment of Streaming the First Century, a project offering free access to historic recordings. The new online … [Read more...] about San Francisco Opera releases historic audio recordings

La Scala’s costume department: I could take one of Callas’s costumes home

30 August 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Maria Callas at La Scala in Macbeth, 1952

La Scala has an extraordinary collection of costumes from its past productions, going back over a hundred years – including, for example, twenty-five costumes designed for Maria Callas and Renata … [Read more...] about La Scala’s costume department: I could take one of Callas’s costumes home

Luciano Pavarotti’s star unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

25 August 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Luciano Pavarotti's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter Caterina was present for the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 24 August 2022. During the ceremony she said,  It is a great honour to represent my … [Read more...] about Luciano Pavarotti’s star unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

[Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs

15 August 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Luciano Pavarotti Recital 1988

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

Odesa Opera House reopens, but without Russian music

7 August 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

The Odesa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet has eliminated Russian music from its programming. The theatre’s artistic director, Nadezhda Babich, said, “We have stopped working on … [Read more...] about Odesa Opera House reopens, but without Russian music

[Interview] Rolando Villazón: My enemy was anxiety.

4 August 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Rolando Villazón, photo Monika Höfler

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.

Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

31 July 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Luciano Pavarotti - photo Primo Gnani, 1987

There will be a new Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Luciano Pavarotti, who died in 2007 at 71. The laying ceremony will be on 24 August 2022 at 11.30 am (Los Angeles time) at 7065 Hollywood … [Read more...] about Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Rome Opera Season 2022-2023

24 July 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Adams Passion - photo by Kristian Kruuser & Kaupo Kikkas

The Rome Opera season has been announced with nine programmes to be staged during 2022-2023. Dialogues des Carmélites according to Emma Dante live on Rai5 and Radio3 On Sunday 27 November 2022, … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Season 2022-2023

Soprano Angel Blue pulls out of production at “racist” Verona Arena

16 July 2022 by Gramilano 7 Comments

Angel Blue photographed by Michelle Dudley Photography crop

“The use of blackface is offensive, humiliating, and outright racist,” said Californian soprano Angel Blue, as she announced that she was pulling out of La Traviata at the Verona Arena. She does … [Read more...] about Soprano Angel Blue pulls out of production at “racist” Verona Arena

Fourth Italian director in the history of Glyndebourne directs Alcina

1 July 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Alcina rehearsal, May 2022, Glyndebourne.

Francesco Micheli is the fourth Italian director to stage a new opera production in the 88-year history of the Glyndebourne Festival. His production of Handel’s Alcina opens tomorrow, 2 July 2022, and … [Read more...] about Fourth Italian director in the history of Glyndebourne directs Alcina

New Rigoletto brings boos back to La Scala

22 June 2022 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Rigoletto - Pretti, photo Brescia and Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala - 02

Mario Martone’s new production of Rigoletto at La Scala divided the public on the opening night. The 62-year-old Neapolitan film director has also directed many theatre productions and over the last … [Read more...] about New Rigoletto brings boos back to La Scala

Riccardo Chailly stops orchestra and chorus after mobile phone rings

7 June 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Riccardo Chailly Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala - photo by Brescia e Amisano

Yesterday evening, during a concert at La Scala, Riccardo Chailly stopped the entire orchestra and chorus after a phone rang. The Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus were performing the moving … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly stops orchestra and chorus after mobile phone rings

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GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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