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, … [Read more...] about Gregory Reinhart answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Anna Netrebko
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. … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
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 … [Read more...] about Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
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]
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 … [Read more...] about Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
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 … [Read more...] about Dmitri Hvorostovsky postpones recitals for further brain tumour treatment
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 … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts
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 … [Read more...] about Strong Italian presence in Royal Opera House Muscat’s new season
ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
All the details of the 2016-2017 Opera Season at London's Royal Opera House: skip to section: ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF THE ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON THE ROYAL OPERA SEASON … [Read more...] about ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
The Chailly-Leiser spat mars La Scala’s opening night? I don’t think so.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Do the public really think that creative artists working under the strain of a La Scala opening night – one of the glitteriest occasions in the opera world - … [Read more...] about The Chailly-Leiser spat mars La Scala’s opening night? I don’t think so.
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
Sad news: Dmitri Hvorostovsky has a brain tumour
An understated message on Dmitri Hvorostovsky's website announced that he has a brain tumour, but seemed more concerned with the trouble it may cause for ticket holders of the events he has had to … [Read more...] about Sad news: Dmitri Hvorostovsky has a brain tumour
600% bounses for La Scala’s musicians but Chailly isn’t happy
You may have already read about the refusal of some La Scala workers to perform Turandot on 1 May being that it is the International Workers' Day. However, it is also the opening day of the Milan … [Read more...] about 600% bounses for La Scala’s musicians but Chailly isn’t happy
Rome Opera to close? Muti to leave? Netrebko & Manon cancelled?
More chaos at Rome Opera which is struggling to overcome its grave economic woes, yet Riccardo Muti, his daughter Chiara Muti who is directing a new production of Manon Lescaut for the theatre, and … [Read more...] about Rome Opera to close? Muti to leave? Netrebko & Manon cancelled?
Luca Pisaroni: Do I miss Italy? No.
Luca Pisaroni is one of the best known Italian voices on the international opera circuit. He sings in all the important opera houses, except for those in Italy. He's not the first Italian artist to be … [Read more...] about Luca Pisaroni: Do I miss Italy? No.
Baryshnikov and Netrebko weigh in on the Bolshoi scandal: a non-stop ugly vaudeville
The tragic news made headlines around the globe, "Bolshoi director in acid attack". It was horrifying; so shocking that it was hard to take in. It felt like the stuff of a Hollywood movie: the … [Read more...] about Baryshnikov and Netrebko weigh in on the Bolshoi scandal: a non-stop ugly vaudeville
Cecilia Bartoli finds a last-minute replacement for Anna Netrebko in Salzburg
Cleopatra is the theme of Cecilia Bartoli's first season as Artistic Director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, but one of her Cleopatras has fallen ill. Anna Netrebko, who was due to sing … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli finds a last-minute replacement for Anna Netrebko in Salzburg
Natalie Dessay pulls out of next month’s Manon performances at La Scala “for health reasons” – Netrebko takes over
Natalie Dessay was forced to cancel, even mid-performance, performances of La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera last month, where she was replaced by soprano Hei-Kyung Hong. The conductor was Fabio … [Read more...] about Natalie Dessay pulls out of next month’s Manon performances at La Scala “for health reasons” – Netrebko takes over
The opera world’s Angelina Jolie, Nino Machaidze: It’s useless to be nervous
Nino Machaidze, the 28-year-old soprano from Georgia, graduate of Milan's Teatro alla Scala Academia, is in Los Angeles with Romeo and Juliet which is boomeranging her around the world's opera houses … [Read more...] about The opera world’s Angelina Jolie, Nino Machaidze: It’s useless to be nervous
Anna Netrebko talks after the opening of Anna Bolena: There’s so much hatred!
On Anna Bolena "It's like nothing I've ever done before! You're practically shouting in the lower register for half the opera. [Donizetti] wants that nasty, chesty voice — he wants it to sound … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko talks after the opening of Anna Bolena: There’s so much hatred!
Critics Round-up: Anna Netrebko in Anna Bolena
This was very much Anna Netrebko's Anna Bolena. True, it is the title role, but the other characters have to work quite hard too. Her face was emoting from every review, and so here's a round-up of … [Read more...] about Critics Round-up: Anna Netrebko in Anna Bolena
Kaufmann, Netrebko and Schrott at the Royal Albert Hall
Opera singers Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott are to perform together for a special concert performance at the Royal Albert Hall in June 2012. The trio ("Opera's Greatest Stars") … [Read more...] about Kaufmann, Netrebko and Schrott at the Royal Albert Hall
Newsweek finds out what makes Anna Netrebko tick… and why she hates ‘toska’
The papers are full of interviews with Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, especially during this, the month of her 40th birthday. They are not exactly carbon copies of each other, but very … [Read more...] about Newsweek finds out what makes Anna Netrebko tick… and why she hates ‘toska’
The opera couple of the moment, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott talk about love, life and food.
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott talked together with Giulia Calligaro of Italy's Il Corriere della Sera, in Paris: You've revolutionized the image and idea of opera. What's changing? Erwin … [Read more...] about The opera couple of the moment, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott talk about love, life and food.
Italian theatre designer Luisa Spinatelli is honoured at La Scala
Last night in the glamorous foyer of the La Scala Theatre (Ridotto dei Palchi 'Arturo Toscanini') the Amici della Scala awarded an Honorary Membership of the society to Italian theatre designer Luisa … [Read more...] about Italian theatre designer Luisa Spinatelli is honoured at La Scala
La Scala’s 2011-2012 opera and ballet season announced
La Scala held a press conference this morning to announce its 2011-2012 season. How times, and timing, have changed. Just ten years ago the season was being presented in late June, with roles "to … [Read more...] about La Scala’s 2011-2012 opera and ballet season announced
Let’s hear it for the girls…
The Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Music Group babes aren't bad either. From the left, soprano Renée Fleming, mezzo Elīna Garanča, violinist Akiko Suwanai and soprano Anna Netrebko. Photo credits: … [Read more...] about Let’s hear it for the girls…