Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? When I was 11 to a disc of Rigoletto with Gobbi, Callas and Di Stefano; a blanket on my shoulder and an umbrella served as my cloak and sword! Above all I loved “La donna è mobile” and the role of the Duke of Mantua; my voice […]
Anna Netrebko
€3,000 seats at La Scala sell out in just a few hours for Anna Netrebko in Andrea Chénier
Fancy being at the opening night to see Anna Netrebko in Andrea Chénier, the opera which opens La Scala’s 2017-2018 season? Well, the best seat in the house will set you back €3,000. But hurry, in just a few hours the theatre has almost sold out. All the most expensive seats have already gone, though […]
Gregory Reinhart answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? As a child in Upstate New York, every Sunday I was taken to Mass. I loved hearing the songs in Latin, and hearing the choir. I wanted so badly to sing along, but was told by the organist I’d have to wait until my voice changed! At school I […]
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
A pleasing new season at La Scala seems to tick all the right boxes, with half the programming dedicated to the Italian repertoire, some rarities, important international operas and a world premiere. The season will also mark the 40th Anniversary of Riccardo Chailly’s collaboration with the theatre, and the 95th birthday of Franco Zeffirelli. The […]
Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Robert Carsen’s spectacular production for La Scala of Don Giovanni created for the opening of the opera season in 2011, started a ten-performance run last night, which ends on 6 June. The Financial Times review opened with, No coup de théâtre ever matched Mozart’s opening chords as stunningly as this. This is a welcome return. […]
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 consumptive courtesan. The idea of tackling this role at La Scala was my idea, so I […]
Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
The staging of La traviata is the lavish Liliana Cavani production with sets by Dante Ferretti with which Verdi’s masterpiece returned to La Scala in 1990 conducted by Riccardo Muti. It was performed as a preview performance two days ago, with the proceeds going to help Italy’s earthquake victims. Ailyn Perez will be singing tonight’s […]
Dmitri Hvorostovsky postpones recitals for further brain tumour treatment
Dmitri Hvorostovsky is having to postpone upcoming recitals in Kaliningrad and Minsk as well as cancel his Wiener Staatsoper recital on March 7 after being advised by his doctors to continue treatment for his brain tumour during this period. On his website, the great Russian baritone says, I had been greatly looking forward to these […]
La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts
Ballet Season 2016-2017 Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 The new season opens with another step along the path of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini Project, Madama Butterfly, which will be directed by Alvis Hermanis (Die Soldaten and I due Foscari at La Scala) with Maria José Siri as Butterfly and Bryan Hymel as Pinkerton. It will use the […]
Strong Italian presence in Royal Opera House Muscat’s new season
The Royal Opera House Muscat’s 2016-2017 Season is called Excellence in Diversity. It seems as though building was completed just the other day, yet the ROHM is about to enter its sixth season. In addition to its Omani and Arab programming it is maintaining an international profile with opera, ballet, concerts, jazz and musical theatre. […]