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recordings

Presenting Jakub Józef Orliński’s new disc: Farewells

5 May 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Farewell - Orlinski, crop

Farewells, Jakub Józef Orliński’s latest album, is released on digital platforms tomorrow, 6 May, and on CD and LP from 27 May 2022. On his new disc, the Warsaw-born countertenor, partnered by … [Read more...] about Presenting Jakub Józef Orliński’s new disc: Farewells

Joyce DiDonato’s new album EDEN is released

26 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Joyce DiDonato © Sergi Jasanada-02

Joyce DiDonato for many years has focused on creating and initiating projects that challenge and stimulate the public, from prison reform, and the plight of refugees, to music education for … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato’s new album EDEN is released

Prima Verdi – tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut

26 November 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Francesco Meli, Prima Verdi

Prima Verdi is tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut. He is accompanied by the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino conducted by Marco Armiliato. Meli says, This album is a … [Read more...] about Prima Verdi – tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut

Cecilia Bartoli’s new album: Unreleased

25 September 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Cecilia Bartoli - Unreleased crop

Oddly, Decca has hidden away a recording from 2013 of Cecilia Bartoli singing dramatic concert arias from the classical period. The album - now called Unreleased - will be available from 12 November, … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s new album: Unreleased

[Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album

28 August 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lawrence Brownlee & Michael Spyres crop

Tenors Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee celebrate the star singers of Rossini’s time in a new album, Amici e Rivali (Friends and Rivals). The disc features arias, duets, and trios from seven of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album

[VIDEO] Massenet’s La Cigale with Carla Fracci and Paul Chalmer

29 April 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Fracci Chalmer

It’s International Dance Day, and Gramilano’s uploaded a short compilation of clips from the first act of the little known ballet by Jules Massenet: La Cigale. The video was recorded in the Teatro … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Massenet’s La Cigale with Carla Fracci and Paul Chalmer

[VIDEO] Pas de Quatre with Carla Fracci, Margrethe Schanne, Josette Amiel, and Kirsten Bundgaard 1968

21 April 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

pas de quatre

The ballet divertissement Pas de Quatre was choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845 to music composed by Cesare Pugni, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. It was first … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Pas de Quatre with Carla Fracci, Margrethe Schanne, Josette Amiel, and Kirsten Bundgaard 1968

[VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988

5 April 2020 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Natalia Makarova and Konstantin Zaklinsky in Swan Lake Act 2 adagio 3 1

In London in 1970 the 29-year-old prima ballerina Natalia Makarova, performing with Leningrad's Kirov Ballet (now St Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet) defected to the West. Then in the summer of 1988 … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988

Countertenor Franco Fagioli’s new CD of Baroque music to be released in May

31 March 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Franco Fagioli's Leonardo Vinci – Veni, Vidi, Vinci crop

Franco Fagioli’s latest solo album presents rediscovered treasures by Neapolitan opera composer Leonardo Vinci. Fagioli – the first countertenor to sign an exclusive recording deal with Deutsche … [Read more...] about Countertenor Franco Fagioli’s new CD of Baroque music to be released in May

A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964

10 September 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Maria Callas Live

More than a gift to their own coffers, Warner Classics in releasing Maria Callas Live is giving fans of La Divina and lovers of opera a meticulously restored collection of some of her finest … [Read more...] about A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964

Joyce DiDonato joins opera singers from 70 years of Desert Island Discs

20 September 2016 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

As a committed fan of BBC 4's Desert Island Discs, I am delighted that Joyce DiDonato will be revealing her list of eight recordings, a book and a luxury item that she would take if she was to be cast … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato joins opera singers from 70 years of Desert Island Discs

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings

14 October 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The 100th birthday of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf falls on 9 December 2015. She died in 2006, but her recordings are a timeless treasure of the Warner Classics catalogue, like those of her contemporary and … [Read more...] about Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings

Win one of five signed copies of Joyce DiDonato’s new double-cd ‘Joyce and Tony’

11 September 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Joyce DiDonato's new album is launched today in North America and Warner Music is giving readers of this blog the opportunity to win one of five signed copies. To open the Wigmore Hall season last … [Read more...] about Win one of five signed copies of Joyce DiDonato’s new double-cd ‘Joyce and Tony’

Sergei Polunin’s Take me to Church: pirouettes or politics?

14 February 2015 by Gramilano 6 Comments

In the week since David LaChapelle’s video with Sergei Polunin went online it has gone viral, even sending this blog offline a couple of times due to the surge in people searching for information … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin’s Take me to Church: pirouettes or politics?

Ian Bostridge sings Schubert: 3 song cycles in 3CD set

7 January 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ian Bostridge, one of the leading Schubert tenors of his generation, has just published a book on the composer's Winterreise song cycle. Winter Journey: The Anatomy of an Obsession is an insightful … [Read more...] about Ian Bostridge sings Schubert: 3 song cycles in 3CD set

Joyce DiDonato sings her latest album live in streaming tonight!

3 October 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

  Tonight, Friday 3 October, Joyce DiDonato will perform the music from her new album Stella di Napoli at the Gowanus Ballroom, a warehouse performance art space in Brooklyn, located above … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato sings her latest album live in streaming tonight!

The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album

10 August 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Joyce DiDonato's new album, Stella di Napoli, is out in September and "ventures far off the beaten bel canto track", says her Erato label. Graciously, Cecilia Bartoli is nominated because, as … [Read more...] about The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album

Callas Remastered: as you’ve never heard her before on 69 cds

16 July 2014 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Warner Classics now holds the key to the Maria Callas official recordings treasure chest. Recently that key was taken out, and the original masters were carefully removed and transferred to computers … [Read more...] about Callas Remastered: as you’ve never heard her before on 69 cds

Rosalind Plowright’s first recital disc reviewed: La belle Dame sans merci

6 May 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

During a career spanning almost forty years, Rosalind Plowright has never recorded a recital disc. She has sung in all the world's greatest opera houses, with the most lauded of colleagues - singers, … [Read more...] about Rosalind Plowright’s first recital disc reviewed: La belle Dame sans merci

New YouTube videos: a starry Bayadère with Zakharova, Allash, Tsiskaridze, Ivata, Krysanova, Osipova and Nikulina from 2008

12 October 2012 by Gramilano 9 Comments

This was an inspired performance of Nikiya from Svetlana Zakharova. There are many videos of her in what is arguably her best role, but this is certainly one her finest performances. A magical evening … [Read more...] about New YouTube videos: a starry Bayadère with Zakharova, Allash, Tsiskaridze, Ivata, Krysanova, Osipova and Nikulina from 2008

The Vatican rocks as it simultaneously gives a thumbs up and thumbs down to Bob Dylan’s album ‘Tempest’

27 September 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, has given a rave review of Bob Dylan's latest album 'Tempest'. But in a very Italian way, it has also given the album a bad review. Two contrasting opinions … [Read more...] about The Vatican rocks as it simultaneously gives a thumbs up and thumbs down to Bob Dylan’s album ‘Tempest’

Cecilia Bartoli on discovering a new composer, vocal styles, and bella Italia

19 September 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Cecilia Bartoli's new album will be on the shelves in a couple of weeks' time. If Mission is successful it should put early Baroque composer Agostino Steffani (1655-1728) back on the musical map. He … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli on discovering a new composer, vocal styles, and bella Italia

Cats are flying out of bags as the secrets of Bartoli’s new album come to light

29 July 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

It is suitably apt that moles, defectors and double agents have been lurking waiting to destabilise Decca's secret project. So the new Cecilia Bartoli album, Mission, will be released on October 2. … [Read more...] about Cats are flying out of bags as the secrets of Bartoli’s new album come to light

Mission news: Jaroussky will join Bartoli on her new recording, a new crime novel tie-in, and a DVD filmed at Versailles

29 July 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

While Decca keep us guessing at the content of Mission, Cecilia Bartoli's new album, their press release gives out a lot of information already: Autumn 2012 marks the release of Mission, a … [Read more...] about Mission news: Jaroussky will join Bartoli on her new recording, a new crime novel tie-in, and a DVD filmed at Versailles

We’re on a mission… with Cecilia Bartoli. Part 3

29 July 2012 by Gramilano 3 Comments

With the third 'clue' at the end of the new Cecilia Bartoli Youtube video we are rewarded with a (gorgeous) 90 second clip of “Ogni core può sperar”, an aria from Agostino Steffani's opera Ser­vio … [Read more...] about We’re on a mission… with Cecilia Bartoli. Part 3

The Bartoli investigation continues with a crime writer and a priest who wrote operas in secret…

21 July 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Decca continues its cat and mouse game, urging Cecilia Bartoli fans to 'investigate' her latest project, Mission. The new YouTube video with the second 'clue' takes us inside Radio Svizzera Italiana's … [Read more...] about The Bartoli investigation continues with a crime writer and a priest who wrote operas in secret…

Be afraid. Be very afraid… Cecilia Bartoli’s on a mission: her new album

17 July 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Be afraid. Be very afraid...  Cecilia Bartoli is set to eradicate evil. No, she's not going out to exorcise the horrors of the crossover, but releasing a new cd called Mission with the Swiss group … [Read more...] about Be afraid. Be very afraid… Cecilia Bartoli’s on a mission: her new album

Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra ride America’s classical charts with Beethoven For All

28 June 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Decca Records has released a box set of the complete Beethoven symphonies which marks the beginning of the Beethoven Project, an unprecedented series of Beethoven recordings: all of the composer's … [Read more...] about Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra ride America’s classical charts with Beethoven For All

Violinist Maxim Vengerov breaks his four year silence on BBC Radio 3

5 April 2012 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Violinist Maxim Vengerov performs live on BBC Radio 3’s drive time programme In Tune, marking his return to the concert platform as soloist after a four year sabbatical. He will join presenter Sean … [Read more...] about Violinist Maxim Vengerov breaks his four year silence on BBC Radio 3

Barbra Streisand’s 50 years with Columbia Records continues with 12 DVD set

23 February 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Barbra Streisand and Columbia Records have announced that Streisand's recording contract with the label has been extended. Beginning with “The Barbra Streisand Album” in 1963 through the most … [Read more...] about Barbra Streisand’s 50 years with Columbia Records continues with 12 DVD set

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NEWS

Royal Academy of Dance acquires Dancing Times photographic archive

[Review] Eun-Me Ahn’s ‘Dragons – “Like a large plate of tasteless food”

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World premiere of film of Kenneth MacMillan’s Sea of Troubles

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The Royal Ballet celebrates Bronislava Nijinska in free livestream

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Scottish Ballet’s Twice-Born double bill in rehearsal

SlowDancing/NYCB – hyper slow-motion films of New York City Ballet dancers in NYC

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António Casalinho – Introducing the 17-year-old Portuguese Dancer

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Meet Francesco Gabriele Frola — National Ballet of Canada and English National Ballet’s new Principal Dancer

You choose it out of Love! Dancing with the Khan-MacKay family

How to stage a ballet… Maina Gielgud explains

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In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut

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[Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album

Vadim Muntagirov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

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Interview: The Royal Ballet’s Ballet Master, Christopher Carr, on mounting Coppélia, the company’s dancers and technique

Joyce DiDonato answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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Interview with The Royal Ballet’s Lauren Cuthbertson – so much passion

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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