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
music & opera
Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
