Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev's The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala with an electrifying Martina Arduino as Aurora. TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate9 … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala – thrilling in its eccentricity
Carla Fracci
The Porselli ballet boutique next to La Scala closes after 55 years
The historic Porselli shop on Via Filodrammatici, opposite La Scala’s artists’ entrance, has closed after 55 years – yet another piece of Milan’s cultural fabric has quietly disappeared. The … [Read more...] about The Porselli ballet boutique next to La Scala closes after 55 years
Tonight – closing gala of the Nervi International Ballet Festival 2025, near Genoa
This evening, the Nervi International Ballet Festival 2025 closes with a gala dedicated to its founder, Mario Porcile. Artistic Director Jacopo Bellussi (who will also dance) together with Maina … [Read more...] about Tonight – closing gala of the Nervi International Ballet Festival 2025, near Genoa
Italian choreographer Amedeo Amodio receives a lifetime achievement award at the Italian Parliament
The career of dancer and choreographer Amedeo Amodio was celebrated on 2 July at the Nilde Iotti Library in the Chamber of Deputies – the lower house of the Italian Parliament. Amodio, in conversation … [Read more...] about Italian choreographer Amedeo Amodio receives a lifetime achievement award at the Italian Parliament
Interview: The Royal Ballet’s Giacomo Rovero on dancing among the vines – Rocchetta Grand Jeté
A few years ago, a rather remarkable woman, Francesca Massone Incisa, wanted to stage a gala at her ‘home’. Home, for Massone, is Cantine dei Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta, among the Monferrato … [Read more...] about Interview: The Royal Ballet’s Giacomo Rovero on dancing among the vines – Rocchetta Grand Jeté
The Italian Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (FIRA) creates the Carla Fracci Research Fellowship
For 12 years, Carla Fracci was the testimonial for The Italian Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sull’Artrite, FIRA), supporting many of its activities. … [Read more...] about The Italian Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (FIRA) creates the Carla Fracci Research Fellowship
La Scala presents its Ballet Season 2025-2026
The Ballet Season 2025-2026 is the first created by the new Director of Ballet at Teatro alla Scala, Frédéric Olivieri, and opens with a revival of Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty in December 2025. The … [Read more...] about La Scala presents its Ballet Season 2025-2026
Review: Gala Fracci 2025 – Marianela Nuñez and Reece Clarke join La Scala Ballet to celebrate Carla Fracci
Graham Spicer sees Gala Fracci, La Scala’s annual festa to celebrate the great Italian ballerina Carla Fracci who died in 2021, now in its fourth edition. TitleGala FracciCompanyLa Scala … [Read more...] about Review: Gala Fracci 2025 – Marianela Nuñez and Reece Clarke join La Scala Ballet to celebrate Carla Fracci
Dance impresario Daniele Cipriani to direct the Spoleto Festival
The Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, has nominated Daniele Cipriani as Artistic Director of the Spoleto Festival. The well-known dance impresario will take over from Monique Veaute after … [Read more...] about Dance impresario Daniele Cipriani to direct the Spoleto Festival
Nervi International Ballet Festival 2025 with The Royal Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet among the line up
NERVI INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL 202528 June - 27 July 2025Parchi di Nervi, Villa Grimaldi Fassio - Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa The Nervi International Ballet Festival 2025 opens on Saturday 28 … [Read more...] about Nervi International Ballet Festival 2025 with The Royal Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet among the line up
Photo Album: The Hidden Gaze – Dance Behind the Curtain, the Corps de Ballet of La Scala as photographed by Gérard Uféras
A book edited by Paola Calvetti and an exhibition curated by Paola Calvetti and Livia Corbò and designed by Margherita Palli at La Scala’s Museum – the dancers of La Scala observed though the lens of … [Read more...] about Photo Album: The Hidden Gaze – Dance Behind the Curtain, the Corps de Ballet of La Scala as photographed by Gérard Uféras
How I shot Carla Fracci
Neapolitan photographer Augusto De Luca became a professional in the mid-70s. He experimented with different photographic materials using traditional techniques. His style is characterised by uncommon … [Read more...] about How I shot Carla Fracci
Opinion: Who’s Natalia Makarova? Dancing Times column on dancers needing to ‘open their eyes and ears’
This is an opinion piece I wrote in 2016 for Dancing Times magazine's Talking Point column. I was reminded of it the other day when hearing a young, professional dancer asking who Natalia Makarova … [Read more...] about Opinion: Who’s Natalia Makarova? Dancing Times column on dancers needing to ‘open their eyes and ears’
Books: Amici della Scala celebrates Italy’s theatre designers – Luciano Damiani, Anna Anni, Gabriella Pescucci, Franca Squarciapino, Luisa Spinatelli
For over twenty years, the association Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala) has produced books dedicated to the set and costume designers who have worked in Milan’s opera house. Since 2002 there … [Read more...] about Books: Amici della Scala celebrates Italy’s theatre designers – Luciano Damiani, Anna Anni, Gabriella Pescucci, Franca Squarciapino, Luisa Spinatelli
Director Beppe Menegatti, husband of Carla Fracci, dies at 95
The Italian theatre director Beppe Menegatti died this morning – he was 95. Menegatti was best known for the works he created for his wife, the ballerina Carla Fracci, who he married in 1964 and … [Read more...] about Director Beppe Menegatti, husband of Carla Fracci, dies at 95
Review: the autobiography of Anna Maria Prina, director of La Scala Ballet School for more than three decades
The preface to Incontro con la danza (Encounters with Dance) is by writer Paola Calvetti, who opens with: “Anna Maria Prina has always been the ‘Director’,” the ‘direttrice’. ‘La’ Prina (as the … [Read more...] about Review: the autobiography of Anna Maria Prina, director of La Scala Ballet School for more than three decades
Walter Venditti, former primo ballerino at La Scala, dies at 95
Walter Venditti, a well-loved figure in Italy's ballet world, died yesterday morning. He was 95. To accompany a series of photos I took of him teaching at his ballet school when he was 84, I … [Read more...] about Walter Venditti, former primo ballerino at La Scala, dies at 95
Remembering Carla Fracci, three years after her death
In 2021, I was asked to write Carla Fracci's obituary for Dancing Times magazine. The great Italian ballerina died three years ago today, on 27 May 2021. Below we reproduce that article. Carla … [Read more...] about Remembering Carla Fracci, three years after her death
[Review & Photos] La Scala Ballet School performs Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and Pistoni’s La Strada
There are kids who spend their spare time alone in their bedrooms scrolling through Instagram feeds or gaming, and there are those who take part in end of term dance shows after training regularly … [Read more...] about [Review & Photos] La Scala Ballet School performs Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and Pistoni’s La Strada
[Review] La Scala’s Gala Fracci shows a company in spectacular form
Gala Fracci at La Scala has reached its third edition. It was La Scala Ballet’s director, Manuel Legris, who had the idea to stage an annual gala dedicated to the great Italian ballerina who died in … [Read more...] about [Review] La Scala’s Gala Fracci shows a company in spectacular form
Rome Opera Ballet to visit Paris, Dubai, Barcelona and Liège in tours beginning this month
Paris in April, Dubai in May, Barcelona in July and Liège in November – these are the four destinations that the Rome Opera Ballet will reach on its international tours scheduled for 2024. The … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet to visit Paris, Dubai, Barcelona and Liège in tours beginning this month
La Scala names its new rehearsal studio the Carla Fracci Sala
On the eve of the third edition of the Fracci Gala, dedicated to Carla Fracci who died on 27 May 2021, La Scala has named its newly built rehearsal studio ‘Sala Carla Fracci’. The Indendant of the … [Read more...] about La Scala names its new rehearsal studio the Carla Fracci Sala
Alina Cojocaru is joined by La Scala’s former principal dancer Mick Zeni in La Strada
A new two-act ballet based on Federico Fellini’s La Strada will premiere at Sadler’s Wells from 25 - 28 January 2024. Performing the lead role of Gelsomina is former Principal of The … [Read more...] about Alina Cojocaru is joined by La Scala’s former principal dancer Mick Zeni in La Strada
Happy 80th Birthday to Luciana Savignano (with video tribute)
Today, Luciana Savignano celebrates her 80th birthday. An étoile at La Scala, she was also a muse for several choreographers, including Maurice Béjart. “The body must be listened to, and if you are … [Read more...] about Happy 80th Birthday to Luciana Savignano (with video tribute)
The Carla Fracci film “Codice Carla” (The Carla Code) opens in cinemas
The prominent Italian cinema director Daniele Lucchetti has produced Codice Carla (The Carla Code), a documentary on Carla Fracci which will be shown in Italian cinemas from tomorrow, 13 November … [Read more...] about The Carla Fracci film “Codice Carla” (The Carla Code) opens in cinemas
[Review] Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras in Alma – this review could be two words long: Holy $#!+
Matthew Paluch sees Sara Baras in Alma, part of the 2023 Flamenco Festival at Sadler's Wells TitleAlmaCompanyBallet Flamenco Sara BarasVenueSadler's Wells, LondonDate6 June 2023ReviewerMatthew … [Read more...] about [Review] Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras in Alma – this review could be two words long: Holy $#!+
[Review] The second annual Gala Fracci at La Scala
[Photo Album of Gala Fracci below] In 2021, the director of the La Scala ballet company, Manuel Legris, had the idea to invite Carla Fracci to give a short masterclass during preparations for … [Read more...] about [Review] The second annual Gala Fracci at La Scala
La Scala Ballet Season 2023-2024
The new Ballet Season, devised by La Scala’s ballet director Manuel Legris, presents seven titles ranging from 19th-century classics such as Coppélia – in a new version by Alexei Ratmansky to open the … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2023-2024
The second edition of the Carla Fracci gala arrives at La Scala
After the resounding success of the first edition of Gala Fracci – a tribute by La Scala to Carla Fracci – now, two years after her death (she died on 27 May 2021) comes the second edition of what … [Read more...] about The second edition of the Carla Fracci gala arrives at La Scala
[Interview] Riccardo Frizza conducts the Verdi Requiem on the 150th anniversary of Manzoni’s death
Alessandro Manzoni died in Milan on 22 May 1873, 150 years ago. The Milanese poet, novelist and philosopher is famous for his novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed, 1827), which is full of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Riccardo Frizza conducts the Verdi Requiem on the 150th anniversary of Manzoni’s death