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 inspired you most … [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
Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81
Italian director Luca Ronconi died yesterday evening in the Policlinico in Milan after a short illness. His health had been poor over the last years, he was on dialysis, and was complicated by pneumonia. He was 81. His collaboration with La Scala lasted for over thirty years and today the flag outside the theatre is flying at half-mast, and Riccardo Muti will dedicate tonight's … [Read more...] about Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81
Barbara Frittoli at La Scala: odd but nice
When the line up for a recital is a soprano, pianist and clarinetist one would assume that at a certain point all three would perform together. Not at La Scala when Barbara Frittoli gave her scheduled recital. Her luxury accompanist was to have been Daniel Barenboim, but he was forced to withdraw due to an injury. La Scala's excellent Fabrizio Meloni was there with his … [Read more...] about Barbara Frittoli at La Scala: odd but nice
The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out
Ok, the headline is a bit over the top, but the vocal recitals at La Scala have been having a spot of bad luck recently, especially seeing that there are only seven recitals each season. Just over a year ago Daniela Barcellona gave a concert postponed from January because of a 'sudden illness'. Diana Damrau, having moved a recital to 21 October 2012 because of illness, then … [Read more...] about The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out
Bartoli’s Sacrificium and Muti’s Verdi Requiem recordings win Grammy Awards
Right down there at the bottom of the barrel are the classical nominations - after rap, blues, latin, heavy metal, R&B, country, jazz, pop and every other form of popular music imaginable there are a few categories for classical music at the Grammys. Just two awards come after and those are for videos, not audio recordings. Here are the winners for 2011. Best Classical … [Read more...] about Bartoli’s Sacrificium and Muti’s Verdi Requiem recordings win Grammy Awards
Luca Pisaroni – the new bass-baritone on the block
With ten years of professional singing under his belt, Luca Pisaroni is starting to make big waves. Here is a well-disciplined voice with a personality, whose owner is good actor and has a charming stage presence. You might have caught him in Giorgio Strehler's legendary production of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Opéra Bastille in 2010 where he was part of an extraordinary cast … [Read more...] about Luca Pisaroni – the new bass-baritone on the block