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
Alexander Pereira
Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced an at-home concert featuring some of the world’s greatest opera stars. A concert on 1 May at 9 pm (21.00 CEST - 15.00 EDT - 20.00 BST), organised by … [Read more...] about Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
Photo Album: Mirella Freni at La Scala
Mirella Freni sang at La Scala from 1962 until 1996 (an account of those years, with comments by Mirella Freni, is here). La Scala issued a statement, which reads: The news of Mirella Freni’s … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Mirella Freni at La Scala
La Scala stages an evening of ballet to raise funds to aid the flooded Teatro Fenice in Venice
On Friday 29 November, La Scala will add an extra performance of its triple bill which opens tomorrow night, and the entire proceeds will go to aid Venice’s Teatro Fenice which finds itself flooded … [Read more...] about La Scala stages an evening of ballet to raise funds to aid the flooded Teatro Fenice in Venice
“Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
A series of emails between Cecilia Bartoli’s husband, Oliver Widmer, and the Intendant of La Scala, Alexander Pereira, confirm that the singer has withdrawn from all three Handel operas that were … [Read more...] about “Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
La Scala gives back a 3 million euro donation
La Scala’s board of directors met today to discuss Saudi Arabia’s 15 million euro donation to the theatre's coffers. Three million have already been advanced with an additional 100,000 euros given to … [Read more...] about La Scala gives back a 3 million euro donation
Photo Album: first look at La Scala’s new Attila with Ildar Abdrazakov
Attila opens La Scala’s 2018-2019 Season and runs from 11 December 2018 to 8 January 2019. CREATIVE TEAM Conductor - Riccardo Chailly Staging - Davide Livermore Sets - Giò Forma Costumes - Gianluca … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at La Scala’s new Attila with Ildar Abdrazakov
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Today, La Scala announced a project to widen the knowledge and appreciation of Baroque music, in a country that has produced so much, yet now often overlooks a genre that is booming in other parts of … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Three for free – La Scala’s surprise opera party with Eva Mei, Giorgio Berrugi and Markus Werba
How felicitous when a disappointing cancellation turns into a surprise party. La Scala heard shortly before midday on Sunday that Sonya Yoncheva, due to give a recital that evening, was suffering … [Read more...] about Three for free – La Scala’s surprise opera party with Eva Mei, Giorgio Berrugi and Markus Werba
Photo album: first look at Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations at La Scala
"Every time I listen to Bach I feel my heart jumps a beat. His music is for me an inexhaustible source of inspiration and has been since my early twenties, which was even before, in Düsseldorf, when I … [Read more...] about Photo album: first look at Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations at La Scala
More than 10% tune in to see Andrea Chénier live from La Scala
11,1% of Italy's viewing public tuned in to watch Andrea Chénier transmitted yesterday evening, live from La Scala. 2,077,000 viewers followed the production, with over 11 million people watching … [Read more...] about More than 10% tune in to see Andrea Chénier live from La Scala
Sneak preview: Hänsel and Gretel at La Scala, Milan
Tonight, a new productions of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel opens in Milan at Teatro alla Scala. The cast features opera students from La Scala’s prestigious Academy. This, however, is … [Read more...] about Sneak preview: Hänsel and Gretel at La Scala, Milan
Good news… Frédéric Olivieri’s back to head the La Scala Ballet
Frédéric Olivieri has been named as the next director of the La Scala Ballet Company. His contract will run for the next three years. La Scala’s Intendant, Alexander Pereira, told the corps de … [Read more...] about Good news… Frédéric Olivieri’s back to head the La Scala Ballet
La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland
The previously announced ballet to be performed at California’s Segerstrom Center by La Scala’s Ballet Company was Mauro Bigonzetti’s Cinderella, a ballet created for the opening of La Scala’s ballet … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland
14 minutes of applause for Anna Netrebko at La Scala in La traviata [interview and photos]
Anna Netrebko has returned to La Scala to sing Violetta as she sings ‘addio’ to the role. She will sing in a Traviata once more in Paris next February, and then that’s it for the curvy Russian and the … [Read more...] about 14 minutes of applause for Anna Netrebko at La Scala in La traviata [interview and photos]
In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut
Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni will make his house debut at La Scala in 2017 as Leporello. It will be only the second opera he has sung in Italy. The performances of Don Giovanni are just before … [Read more...] about In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut
The real reason Mauro Bigonzetti has left La Scala Ballet?
Though this is ‘just a blog’, I decided to leave out backstage gossip from the report of Mauro Bigonzetti’s addio to La Scala. However, as one of Italy’s top newspaper’s has done just that… why … [Read more...] about The real reason Mauro Bigonzetti has left La Scala Ballet?
Mauro Bigonzetti resigns as director of La Scala Ballet Company
Mauro Bigonzetti, who was appointed as head of the La Scala Ballet at the beginning of this year, has been forced to step down. A severe back problem has persisted since the beginning of the summer … [Read more...] about Mauro Bigonzetti resigns as director of La Scala Ballet Company
La Scala dancers protest over planned new ballet season
At the close of today's press conference at La Scala to announce Mauro Bigonzetti's 2016-2017 season, fifty or so company dancers arrived to protest at the repertoire proposed. Bigonzetti - a … [Read more...] about La Scala dancers protest over planned new ballet season
Alexander Pereira’s new season at La Scala is rejected by the Lombardy Region
La Scala’s Chief Executive, Alexander Pereira, saw his proposal for the theatre’s 2016-2017 season rejected yesterday by the Lombardy Region, one of the founding members of the Scala Foundation. … [Read more...] about Alexander Pereira’s new season at La Scala is rejected by the Lombardy Region
La Scala ballerina, Antonina Chapkina, in intensive care after hit by tram
Russian ballerina Antonina Chapkina is in a stable condition after having been hit by a tram outside Milan’s Central Station. Apparently distracted – she was wearing headphones connected to her … [Read more...] about La Scala ballerina, Antonina Chapkina, in intensive care after hit by tram
Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno at La Scala… what a disillusion
Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno (The Triumph of Time and Disillusionment) is an oratorio by Handel which the Opernhaus in Zurich decided to stage as an opera in 2003, when La Scala’s CEO … [Read more...] about Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno at La Scala… what a disillusion
Mauro Bigonzetti to be the new director of ballet at La Scala
In today’s edition of La Repubblica, it is reported that the new director of the corps de ballet at La Scala will be Mauro Bigonzetti. The announcement is not yet official but apparently the … [Read more...] about Mauro Bigonzetti to be the new director of ballet at La Scala
Giovanna d’Arco – the background of La Scala’s latest production
On 7 December 2015, La Scala’s 2015-2016 Season opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco, which had its premiere at La Scala on 15 February 1845, but hasn’t been staged at the Milanese theatre … [Read more...] about Giovanna d’Arco – the background of La Scala’s latest production
Makhar Vaziev leaves La Scala to head the Bolshoi Ballet Company
Makhar Vaziev will leave his position as head of the La Scala Ballet Company and take over at the Bolshoi Ballet on 18 March 2016. The Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, Vladimir Urin, had already … [Read more...] about Makhar Vaziev leaves La Scala to head the Bolshoi Ballet Company
La Scala’s ousted singer returns for Cenerentola at La Scala
Alexander Pereira’s appointment as General Manager of La Scala came with the usual chorus of protests which accompanies almost all changes at this highly conservative theatre, and there was even a … [Read more...] about La Scala’s ousted singer returns for Cenerentola at La Scala
The BBC interviews Rome Opera’s chief: It was like a war
A few months ago, I was contacted by the BBC about an upcoming Peter Day's World of Business episode, which was to take a look at opera funding. They could hardly do such a programme – which also goes … [Read more...] about The BBC interviews Rome Opera’s chief: It was like a war
Overwhelming applause for Gruberova and her queens at La Scala
You shouldn't reveal a lady’s age, they say, but how can I not say that Edita Gruberova is 68 years-old when she took on the final scenes from three of Donizetti’s most demanding operas in one … [Read more...] about Overwhelming applause for Gruberova and her queens at La Scala
La Scala pays tribute to Fiorenza Cossotto
Yesterday, La Scala celebrated Fiorenza Cossotto’s 80th birthday with a conference in the Toscanini Foyer. Joining her were Sabino Lenoci and Giancarlo Landini from L’Opera Magazine. The idea of … [Read more...] about La Scala pays tribute to Fiorenza Cossotto
