Scott C Morgan sees Chicago Opera Theater – the Windy City's second-oldest and often more adventurous opera company – in Kurt Weill’s Der Silbersee. TitleDer Silbersee (The Silver Lake)CompanyChicago … [Read more...] about Review: Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Kurt Weill’s Der Silbersee
music & opera
Review: The Opera Locos break all the classical rules in ‘Yllana’
Graham Watts sees The Opera Locos' Yllana – I started in a very sceptical mood but ended as an upbeat believer! TitleYllana CompanyThe Opera LocosVenueSadler’s Wells Theatre, LondonDate24 February … [Read more...] about Review: The Opera Locos break all the classical rules in ‘Yllana’
Review: Norwegian National Opera’s Barber of Seville
Graham Watts sees Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Norwegian National Opera and Alasdair Kent (a mesmerising performance), Lilly Jørstad (great beauty and clarity of tone), and Gurgen Baveyen … [Read more...] about Review: Norwegian National Opera’s Barber of Seville
Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities Opens Its Doors To The Public
New 500-seat concert hall opens with concert by the Scottish Ensemble New 250-seat theatre opens with dance by ZooNation Unveil of new digital art by Refik Anadol and Anna Ridler World … [Read more...] about Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities Opens Its Doors To The Public
Review: Lyric Opera of Chicago revives David McVicar’s Salome
Scott C Morgan sees David McVicar’s 2008 production of Salome with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which feels more relevant today after the #MeToo movement and the Epstein files … [Read more...] about Review: Lyric Opera of Chicago revives David McVicar’s Salome
Interview: Katia Ricciarelli celebrates her 80th birthday, still in love with Carreras
Yesterday, soprano Katia Ricciarelli celebrated her 80th birthday. Although her international singing career ended many years ago, she is a well-known personality in Italy, her fame travelling far … [Read more...] about Interview: Katia Ricciarelli celebrates her 80th birthday, still in love with Carreras
La Scala closed 2025 with record ticket sales of over €40 million
La Scala closed 2025 with record ticket sales of over €40 million (+7.3% compared to 2024). Added to this is the record revenue of the La Scala Theatre Museum, which reached €3.4 million. “From the … [Read more...] about La Scala closed 2025 with record ticket sales of over €40 million
The Washington National Opera pulls out of the Kennedy Center
The Washington National Opera said that it will move its performances out of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ending a partnership that began in 1971. The decision is the strongest … [Read more...] about The Washington National Opera pulls out of the Kennedy Center
The Rossini Opera Festival 2026 is announced
The 47th edition of the Rossini Opera Festival will be held in Pesaro from 11 to 23 August 2026. The Festival opens with a new production of Le Siège de Corinthe, conducted by Carlo Rizzi and … [Read more...] about The Rossini Opera Festival 2026 is announced
In Memoriam 2025: artists who died this year… Singers, Dancers, Actors, Musicians, Writers, Directors
In memoriam 2025: a personal list remembering some of the artists who died in 2025. Links lead to Wikipedia articles. January Marianne Faithfull, 78, English singer ("As Tears Go By"), … [Read more...] about In Memoriam 2025: artists who died this year… Singers, Dancers, Actors, Musicians, Writers, Directors
Giorgio Armani at La Scala exhibition opens and the opening of La Scala’s 2025/2026 Ballet Season is dedicated to the designer
Teatro alla Scala is dedicating the opening of its 2025/2026 ballet season to Giorgio Armani, who died in September. Sleeping Beauty opens tomorrow, 18 December 2025, and in the foyer, an exhibition … [Read more...] about Giorgio Armani at La Scala exhibition opens and the opening of La Scala’s 2025/2026 Ballet Season is dedicated to the designer
Riccardo Chailly taken to hospital and the performance suspended at La Scala
After the triumphant opening of La Scala’s opera season on 7 December with Dmitri Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, the second performance was interrupted after Maestro Riccardo Chailly fell … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly taken to hospital and the performance suspended at La Scala
Cecilia Bartoli announces opera and ballet for Salzburg Whitsun Festival 2026
'Travel' is the theme chosen by Artistic Director Cecilia Bartoli for the Salzburg Whitsun Festival 2026, which runs from 22 to 25 May. After the city-themed festivals of recent years, when select … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli announces opera and ballet for Salzburg Whitsun Festival 2026
Interview: Kate Flatt, choreographer and movement director, on 40 years of Les Mis and Turandot
Paul Arrowsmith talks to Kate Flatt – choreographer, movement director, mentor and dance educator – on her two long-running productions, the musical Les Misérables and the opera Turandot, and a life … [Read more...] about Interview: Kate Flatt, choreographer and movement director, on 40 years of Les Mis and Turandot
Ekaterina Bakanova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Russian soprano Ekaterina Bakanova answers questions about her life and loves on the day of her debut as the Countess, after many Susannas, in The Marriage of Figaro. When did you start … [Read more...] about Ekaterina Bakanova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Interview: Riccardo Chailly and director Vasily Barkhatov on Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk which opens La Scala’s opera season
On the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s death, La Scala opens its opera Season with his masterpiece Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, based on the novella by Nikolai Leskov. In the story, a young … [Read more...] about Interview: Riccardo Chailly and director Vasily Barkhatov on Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk which opens La Scala’s opera season
Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov’s appearances in Verona are cancelled
Ildar Abdrazakov will not take part in Don Giovanni at the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona in January 2026 as planned. The Russian bass, a declared supporter of Vladimir Putin, has already had many … [Read more...] about Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov’s appearances in Verona are cancelled
Review: Astana Opera’s production of Rossini’s La scala di seta
Graham Watts sees La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder) in Kazakhstan – a performance of unbridled joy. TitleLa scala di setaCompanyAstana OperaVenueKulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall, Astana, … [Read more...] about Review: Astana Opera’s production of Rossini’s La scala di seta
La Scala in the USA – a Gala in New York, an exhibition in Washington, and a screening in Los Angeles
After visits to Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Madrid and London, La Scala continues an international tour presenting its 2025/2026 season of dance, opera and concerts, with dates in the United States as a … [Read more...] about La Scala in the USA – a Gala in New York, an exhibition in Washington, and a screening in Los Angeles
Interview: Angela Gheorghiu, betrayed by Pappano and Kaufmann, and still loving Alagna
At Verona’s Arena on 30 September, a concert was held remembering Luciano Pavarotti, two weeks shy of what would have been his 90th birthday. Angela Gheorghiu was one of the singers taking part: [I … [Read more...] about Interview: Angela Gheorghiu, betrayed by Pappano and Kaufmann, and still loving Alagna
Review: Cecilia Bartoli’s sweet, tormented Love Songs in Rimini
Graham Spicer sees Cecilia Bartoli in concert with 'Si dolce è ‘l tormento – Canzoni d’amore', still weaving the Bartoli magic. TitleSi dolce è ‘l tormento – Canzoni d’amoreCompanyCecilia Bartoli … [Read more...] about Review: Cecilia Bartoli’s sweet, tormented Love Songs in Rimini
The Force of Destiny – a documentary following preparations for opening night at La Scala
La Scala: The Force of Destiny is the first documentary co-produced under a new partnership between RAI Documentari and France Télévisions – it will be given a theatrical release in France on 2 … [Read more...] about The Force of Destiny – a documentary following preparations for opening night at La Scala
Cecilia Bartoli in Rimini with the tormented love of the great composers
Sunday 28 September sees the return of Cecilia Bartoli to the Teatro Galli in Rimini for the Sagra Musicale Malatestiana. The history of Rimini’s Teatro Galli is inextricably linked to Bartoli, … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli in Rimini with the tormented love of the great composers
Interview: Mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli – enjoying what I have
Mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli, although not yet 40, has had a career lasting almost two decades. After winning the highly respected Aslico competition in 2007, she made her debut at the age of just … [Read more...] about Interview: Mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli – enjoying what I have
Teatro La Scala pays tribute to Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani – who died yesterday in Milan at the age of 91 – was a pillar of Milanese cultural life, including his support for opera and ballet at Teatro della Scala. In 1997, when the La Scala … [Read more...] about Teatro La Scala pays tribute to Giorgio Armani
Soprano Maria José Siri finishes Manon Lescaut seated after slipping on nude torso
The Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago saw the opening of Manon Lescaut, the last opera of the 2025 open-air season, on Saturday 30 August. Giacomo Puccini wrote the opera at his home in Torre del … [Read more...] about Soprano Maria José Siri finishes Manon Lescaut seated after slipping on nude torso
Review: Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – the show is a marvel
Matthew Paluch sees Drew McOnie’s spot-on production of Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon with energised and genuine choreography and great performances. TitleBrigadoon CompanyRegent’s Park Open Air … [Read more...] about Review: Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – the show is a marvel
A few words with Cecilia Bartoli – 2 decades at Salzburg, stress, Rimini, and marriage proposals
Cecilia Bartoli, the singer from Rome, rarely performs in Italy. Her Italian fans travel far to catch her performances in Salzburg, Monte-Carlo, Zurich – her home bases – and on tour in Germany, … [Read more...] about A few words with Cecilia Bartoli – 2 decades at Salzburg, stress, Rimini, and marriage proposals
Director and designer Robert ‘Bob’ Wilson dies at 83
Robert 'Bob' Wilson, one of the most important innovators of the contemporary theatre scene, has died – he was 83 years old. Born in Waco, Texas, in 1941, the multidisciplinary director, author and … [Read more...] about Director and designer Robert ‘Bob’ Wilson dies at 83
Putin’s conductor, Valery Gergiev, sees his return concert cancelled
Valery Gergiev’s planned concert at the Royal Palace of Caserta, near Naples, has been cancelled after more than 16,000 people (including politicians worldwide, Nobel laureates, and activists) signed … [Read more...] about Putin’s conductor, Valery Gergiev, sees his return concert cancelled