On 21 June Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of La traviata opens at Verona’s gigantic arena. He’s 96. On Anna Magnani and Maria Callas Anna Magnani and Maria Callas were two goddesses but with difficult characters. Anna wanted to see me and asked to come to dinner, as long we could be alone so that we could chat easily. I said ok, but shortly after Maria called me, needing … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli, at 96, on Anna Magnani and Maria Callas, his career, and old age
Anna Magnani
Bartoli’s back on the treasure trail with her Norma video
After offering clues taken from ‘webisodes’ filmed during the recording of Cecilia Bartoli's cd Mission, which eventually led to the name of the composer featured on the disc, Decca are being cunning again by offering 'exclusive content' to stir up interest in La Ceci's latest project. Following this link, it is possible to play a little game to reconstruct the cover of … [Read more...] about Bartoli’s back on the treasure trail with her Norma video
Cecilia Bartoli on her sensual Norma and returning to La Scala
"It will not be a normal Norma!" joked Cecilia Bartoli to the Corriere della Sera's Giuseppina Manin. A joke that works better in Italian: "Sarà una Norma fuori norma!" She has sung the role in concert form in June 2011 in Dortmund, Germany. Now comes the stage performance in Salzburg, the CD and the commemorative t-shirt. She won't be a goddess or a heroine from Greek … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli on her sensual Norma and returning to La Scala
Be afraid. Be very afraid… Cecilia Bartoli’s on a mission: her new album
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 I Barocchisti directed by Diego Fasolis. And that's it. Decca, with their usual marketing cunning, aren't giving away more than this at present. Obviously hoping for a viral … [Read more...] about Be afraid. Be very afraid… Cecilia Bartoli’s on a mission: her new album
Giuseppe Picone answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I started when I was 10 years old at the Teatro San Carlo ballet school in Naples. Why did you start dancing? My elder brother Raffaele took me to the audition and I fell in love with ballet immediately. Till then I had no idea of what ballet was. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Absolutely: Rudolf Nureyev. Which … [Read more...] about Giuseppe Picone answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? At 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? I saw Carla Fracci dancing. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn for their great partnership. Which dancer do you most admire? Sylvie Guillem for the light that emanates when she dances; Massimo Murru for the very personal and natural way to portray … [Read more...] about Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Anna Anni, costume designer for Orson Welles and Franco Zeffirelli, has died at 84
After designing costumes for two Orson Welles projects in 1953, Anna Anni worked for more than 50 years at the top. Maria Callas, Monserrat Caballè, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Carla Fracci, Rudolf Nureyev, Anna Magnani, Valentina Cortese e Fanny Ardant all wore her costumes. A designer obsessed with detail, and one of the first to rediscover techniques for creating … [Read more...] about Anna Anni, costume designer for Orson Welles and Franco Zeffirelli, has died at 84