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Arturo Toscanini

Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan

14 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Otello 1976 photo by Erio Piccagliani 01

Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence on 12 January 1923. Teatro alla Scala anticipates the celebration of the great director's centenary with the exhibition “Franco Zeffirelli - The La Scala Years" … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan

Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy ruffles La Scala’s feathers

5 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Fondazione Prada - Riccardo Muti - photo by Niccolo Quaresima

On the same day that La Scala opened its doors for a preview performance of the new production of Macbeth that will open its season on 7 December, the Prada Foundation in Milan welcomed Riccardo Muti … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy ruffles La Scala’s feathers

Prima Verdi – tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut

26 November 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Francesco Meli, Prima Verdi

Prima Verdi is tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut. He is accompanied by the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino conducted by Marco Armiliato. Meli says, This album is a … [Read more...] about Prima Verdi – tenor Francesco Meli’s solo recording debut

Interview with La Scala intendant, Dominique Meyer: Green Passes and opening up

25 July 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dominique Meyer photo by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

I would like to know [how many at La Scala] are vaccinated, but the law on privacy does not allow us to know who is vaccinated and who isn’t. So, at a dress rehearsal, when someone sings without a … [Read more...] about Interview with La Scala intendant, Dominique Meyer: Green Passes and opening up

A tram for Carla Fracci – tributes and honours

5 June 2021 by Gramilano 2 Comments

A tram for Carla Fracci

A week ago today, Carla Fracci’s funeral was televised live on RAI1, Italy’s main television channel. The day of her death, Thursday 27 May 2021, television schedules were immediately revised and her … [Read more...] about A tram for Carla Fracci – tributes and honours

Sparks fly at La Scala between conductors Muti and Chailly

12 May 2021 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Riccardo Muti and the Vienna Philharmonic, photo by © Silvia Lelli_05

Riccardo vs Riccardo. One is the theatre's former music director Riccardo Muti, who last night concluded the Vienna Philharmonic's mini Italian tour at La Scala on the 75th anniversary of the … [Read more...] about Sparks fly at La Scala between conductors Muti and Chailly

Concert to mark 75th anniversary of La Scala’s reopening [streaming]

11 May 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Reopening concert, photos by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

Yesterday, after 199 days, La Scala reopened its doors to the public with a concert by its Orchestra and Chorus. 500 spectators (normal capacity, 2,000) occupied the boxes and galleries with the … [Read more...] about Concert to mark 75th anniversary of La Scala’s reopening [streaming]

Federico Longhi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

12 November 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Federico Longhi 02

Q&A When did you start singing? When I was 6, in the chorus of my hometown in the Valle d’Aosta. A lady in my parish, Rita, invited me to sing and I was so happy... I looked forward to the … [Read more...] about Federico Longhi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Remembering the conductor Tullio Serafin, fifty years after his death

3 October 2018 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Callas with Serafin in 1960

Fifty years ago today, on 3 October 1968, Tullio Serafin died in Rome. In a long career he conducted singers from Caruso to Pavarotti. He was born near Venice in 1878, but when he was 11 the family … [Read more...] about Remembering the conductor Tullio Serafin, fifty years after his death

Soprano Frances Alda: arguing with Toscanini, a debut at La Scala, Chaliapin’s hairy chest, and Caruso at the Met

6 March 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Frances Alda 1915 George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress)

Frances Alda (1879 – 1952) was a New Zealand-born, Australian-raised operatic soprano. She was one of the world's most celebrated singers during the first three decades of the 20th century and was a … [Read more...] about Soprano Frances Alda: arguing with Toscanini, a debut at La Scala, Chaliapin’s hairy chest, and Caruso at the Met

Newly restored photos from the La Scala Archive of Victor de Sabata with Callas, Tebaldi, Toscanini, Olivier

11 November 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Victor de Sabata with Maria Callas after La vestale, 1954   conducted by Antonino Votto

La Scala remembers the great conductor Victor de Sabata with an exhibition in the theatre foyer (which opens tomorrow, Sunday 12 November) and Riccardo Chailly has chosen to dedicate Andrea Chénier to … [Read more...] about Newly restored photos from the La Scala Archive of Victor de Sabata with Callas, Tebaldi, Toscanini, Olivier

Founder of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, violinist Bronislaw Huberman, died 70 years ago today

16 June 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Bronislaw Huberman 2

Seventy years ago, on 16 June 1947, virtuoso violinist Bronislaw Huberman died at 64. He founded the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra by bringing Jewish musicians from Nazi Europe to Palestine, giving … [Read more...] about Founder of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, violinist Bronislaw Huberman, died 70 years ago today

Toscanini was born 150 years ago today… a quick summing up of a man and his career

25 March 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Toscanini augtograph

Arturo Toscanini is the epitome of what a conductor should be according to the mass imagination. Like Caruso and Callas, his fame went beyond the concert halls, past the record-buyers and radio … [Read more...] about Toscanini was born 150 years ago today… a quick summing up of a man and his career

Daniel Barenboim on ‘his’ Fidelio at La Scala

3 December 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The opening of La Scala's season on 7 December each year is the most anticipated and often contested event in the international opera calendar. Daniel Barenboim opens the 2014-2015 Opera and Ballet … [Read more...] about Daniel Barenboim on ‘his’ Fidelio at La Scala

La Scala pays tribute to Magda Olivero who has died at 104

9 September 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Theatrical to the last, the great soprano Magda Olivero died on the day of La Scala's opening performance after the summer break. Before Maria Agresta's recital a beautifully worded tribute to … [Read more...] about La Scala pays tribute to Magda Olivero who has died at 104

Sanquirico, designer of Norma and Anna Bolena, finally rests among the greats

16 November 2013 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Wikipedia entry on Italian painter and designer Alessandro Sanquirico reads: Alessandro Sanquirico (Milan, July 27, 1777 – Milan, March 12, 1849) was an Italian scenic designer, architect, and … [Read more...] about Sanquirico, designer of Norma and Anna Bolena, finally rests among the greats

Adolphe Appia at La Scala: a new publication by the Amici della Scala

25 November 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala) was formed in 1978 to promote music, art and culture in Milan and the Lombardy region, though the La Scala opera house is the focus of their … [Read more...] about Adolphe Appia at La Scala: a new publication by the Amici della Scala

Juan Diego Florez talks about his fairy-tale wedding, his fans, and being lazy

6 May 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

On the eve of Juan Diego Florez's Albert Hall concert, The Sunday Times sent a journalist to his home in Pesaro. This beautiful town on Italy's east coast - home to the Rossini Opera Festival, and … [Read more...] about Juan Diego Florez talks about his fairy-tale wedding, his fans, and being lazy

Italian theatre designer Luisa Spinatelli is honoured at La Scala

17 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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

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NEWS

New York City Ballet 2023 Spring Season is announced

Principal Brandon Lawrence to leave Birmingham Royal Ballet to join Ballett Zürich

Two new opera recordings to be released by Warner Classics/Erato

Four new Principal dancers for New York City Ballet

LaScalaTv, La Scala’s new streaming platform, is now live

Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

Pam Tanowitz’s Secret Things, her second world premiere for The Royal Ballet this season

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

Principal dancer Jared Angle to give final performance with NYCB

The Australian Ballet will tour to the Royal Opera House in August 2023

FEATURED POSTS

Gregory Kunde as Otello, photo by Matthias Baus, Teatro alla Scala 2015

Top opera singers discuss how they choose and prepare new roles

Joyce DiDonato answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up

In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?

The Tricks of the Trocks: powder, ice and pointe shoes

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[Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album

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António Casalinho – Introducing the 17-year-old Portuguese Dancer

Luca Pisaroni as Leporello in Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne   photo by Bill Cooper

In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut

Nunez headshot cropped

In conversation with Marianela Nuñez

franco fagioli © thibault stipal, 2014

Franco Fagioli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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