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 moved to Milan where he eventually played viola at La Scala under the baton of Arturo Toscanini, and he was still in his teens when he conducted his first opera, L'elisir … [Read more...] about Remembering the conductor Tullio Serafin, fifty years after his death
Barbara Frittoli
Top opera singers discuss how they choose and prepare new roles
Opera singing is a high-wire profession. Only the most tone-deaf will not wince when a note is off. It is all too obvious when part of a role lies too high, or too low or, indeed, hovers too much around the centre of the voice, for a particular singer. Audiences reach out in empathy when a singer arrives ‘sung out’ at the end of an opera… or prepare to boo. Dancers, and … [Read more...] about Top opera singers discuss how they choose and prepare new roles
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. Daniel Barenboim saw over a cast that … [Read more...] about Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Barbara Frittoli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? From what I remember I've always sung: when I was seven I had emergency surgery for peritonitis and I sang throughout the operation. Why did you start singing? When I was nine I was accepted at the Milan Conservatory to study piano; choral singing was, and is, one of the obligatory studies. Which singer … [Read more...] about Barbara Frittoli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
@teatroallascala – the world’s most famous theatre goes digital
Social media is revolutionising how theatres and their artists communicate with audiences and fans. Teatro alla Scala, which has an august, though often severe, reputation is, surprisingly, emerging as one of the top players in social networking. It had some catching up to do. The Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera opened their Twitter accounts at the beginning of … [Read more...] about @teatroallascala – the world’s most famous theatre goes digital