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Cecilia Bartoli’s husband, Oliver Widmer, and the Intendant of La Scala, Alexander Pereira, confirm that the singer has withdrawn from all three Handel operas that were chosen as part of a project that she helped cultivate.Dear Alexander, Cecilia is shocked by the decision not to extend your contract. In these circumstances, she does not believe … [Read more...] about “Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
Alexander Pereira
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 the theatre’s Academy.In return the Saudis were to have received two concerts by La Scala's orchestra in Riyadh, where in 2020 Zubin Mehta would have also conducted a concert … [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 TEAMConductor - Riccardo Chailly Staging - Davide Livermore Sets - Giò Forma Costumes - Gianluca Falaschi Lights - Antonio Castro Video - D-wokCASTAttila - Ildar Abdrazakov Odabella - Saioa Hernández Ezio - George Petean Foresto - Fabio Sartori Uldino - Francesco … [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 - 2019La 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 Italian repertoire, continuing with the cycle of works of Verdi, Puccini, Verismo (which will return in 2020 with Giordano’s Fedora and Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre re), and 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 the world.Cecilia Bartoli — who made a guest appearance last night at the end of Javier Camarena’s Italian debut concert as part of the Pavia Sacred Music Festival— will be … [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 from a bad throat that had suddenly worsened, and she was obliged to cancel.At that time, many of the audience were already on their way to the theatre, or maybe on a Sunday were … [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 choreographed a piece to the Goldberg Variations, which many critics considered, at the beginning of the nineties, one of the most important works of the period."Heinz Spoerli … [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 it for a while before changing channels to watch their favourite game show.Italy is the home of opera, but people don’t wander down the streets whistling melodies from Aida, so … [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 no student production.German director, Sven-Eric Bechtolf, has worked extensively in opera, mainly in Germany and Austria. The strong connection with La Scala’s current … [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 ballet of his decision this morning, and the announcement was greeted with long applause.Olivieri was the company’s Director from 2002 until 2007. He left to head the theatre’s … [Read more...] about Good news… Frédéric Olivieri’s back to head the La Scala Ballet