Rolando Villazón works now as a writer, an artistic director, and director, with singing talking a secondary role. “My enemy was anxiety, fragility, and a lack of confidence. It's not a question of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Rolando Villazón: My enemy was anxiety.
Cecilia Bartoli
Cecilia Bartoli’s Farinelli tribute in her father’s hometown
The enchantingly beautiful Teatro Galli in Rimini was dark for 75 years after a bomb destroyed much of the theatre in 1943. Cecilia Bartoli gave the inaugural concert in 2018 as she has strong ties … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s Farinelli tribute in her father’s hometown
Cecilia Bartoli’s new album: Unreleased
Oddly, Decca has hidden away a recording from 2013 of Cecilia Bartoli singing dramatic concert arias from the classical period. The album - now called Unreleased - will be available from 12 November, … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s new album: Unreleased
[Interview] Cecilia Bartoli: Baroque music is for the soul
Why is Baroque music so popular? Baroque music is for the soul, connected to a period when there was great freedom of expression, which today we’ve lost. There is an aspect of Baroque music that … [Read more...] about [Interview] Cecilia Bartoli: Baroque music is for the soul
2021 GRAMMYs postponed to Sunday 14 March 2021
The Grammy Award Ceremony, scheduled for 31 January 2021 on CBS, has been postponed. A press release by the organisers of the Grammy Awards reads: After thoughtful conversations with health … [Read more...] about 2021 GRAMMYs postponed to Sunday 14 March 2021
Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced an at-home concert featuring some of the world’s greatest opera stars. A concert on 1 May at 9 pm (21.00 CEST - 15.00 EDT - 20.00 BST), organised by … [Read more...] about Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
Cecilia Bartoli’s new album ‘Farinelli’ will be issued in November
Cecilia Bartoli’s new album celebrates the life and career of the most famous opera singer of the eighteenth century: the castrato Farinelli. This Decca disc marks three decades of Bartoli’s … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s new album ‘Farinelli’ will be issued in November
“Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
A series of emails between Cecilia Bartoli’s husband, Oliver Widmer, and the Intendant of La Scala, Alexander Pereira, confirm that the singer has withdrawn from all three Handel operas that were … [Read more...] about “Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
Cecilia Bartoli pulls out of her Baroque project at La Scala in October
Cecilia Bartoli has cancelled her participation in the baroque trilogy at La Scala, which was created around her. The project will present three Handel operas over the next three seasons, in the … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli pulls out of her Baroque project at La Scala in October
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020
After Riccardo Chailly opens the season with Tosca, continuing the cycle of works by Puccini, he will conduct his first Strauss opera, as well as the complete Beethoven symphonies. Zubin Mehta will … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020
In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński
Jakub Józef Orliński is the new countertenor name to add to an ever-growing roster of artists who are selling discs and selling out concert halls in this once rarefied area of the vocal arts. Polish … [Read more...] about In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński
Lawrence Brownlee answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition!
Q&A When and why did you start singing? When I was a kid… I come from a musical family, and so music has always been a part of who I am. But I got serious about singing in high school when people … [Read more...] about Lawrence Brownlee answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition!
Salzburg, L’italiana in Algeri – the role Cecilia Bartoli was born to play
Cecilia Bartoli was made to sing Isabella. Rossini wrote L’italiana in Algeri 200 years ago, but he could have been thinking of her. She waited until she was 50 to sing the role, though having pushed … [Read more...] about Salzburg, L’italiana in Algeri – the role Cecilia Bartoli was born to play
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Today, La Scala announced a project to widen the knowledge and appreciation of Baroque music, in a country that has produced so much, yet now often overlooks a genre that is booming in other parts of … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Bartoli steps in as Villazón withdraws from closing gala at Salzburg Festival
The closing gala concert at Salzburg’s Whitsun Festival was to have featured the Festival’s director, Cecilia Bartoli, together with tenors Jonas Kaufmann and Rolando Villazón, and the Staatskapelle … [Read more...] about Bartoli steps in as Villazón withdraws from closing gala at Salzburg Festival
Bolle’s Boléro: Roberto Bolle at La Scala performs Béjart’s intoxicating rite for the first time
I certainly wasn’t the only one to have doubts when Roberto Bolle announced his intention to climb onto Béjart’s red table. Facebook was abuzz with comments from puzzled ballet fans who couldn’t see … [Read more...] about Bolle’s Boléro: Roberto Bolle at La Scala performs Béjart’s intoxicating rite for the first time
Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on religion, the Sistine Chapel and Salzburg
This evening, Cecilia Bartoli will become the first woman to sing in the Sistine Chapel. Though, strictly speaking, she was already the first – albeit in a private form – when she recorded the disc … [Read more...] about Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on religion, the Sistine Chapel and Salzburg
Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on home… Zurich, Salzburg and her beloved Rome
Cecilia Bartoli has homes in Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Anna Maria Liguori talked to her about them for the Repubblica newspaper. Rome Rome is my city of choice. For love, I moved to Zurich as … [Read more...] about Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on home… Zurich, Salzburg and her beloved Rome
Cecilia Bartoli and Antonio Pappano in conversation and concert in Rome
Cecilia Bartoli and Antonio Pappano celebrated Mozart’s 261st birthday with a concert in Rome. Pappano was conducting his orchestra and chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia at the Parco … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli and Antonio Pappano in conversation and concert in Rome
In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut
Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni will make his house debut at La Scala in 2017 as Leporello. It will be only the second opera he has sung in Italy. The performances of Don Giovanni are just before … [Read more...] about In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut
Cecilia Bartoli – the enchantress casts her spell at the Lucerne Festival
After a couple of years of not hearing La Bartoli live, I was a little apprehensive before her concert at the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, KKL, after having read Rupert Christiansen’s … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli – the enchantress casts her spell at the Lucerne Festival
La Scala soprano forced to renounce opening night and broadcast of new production
La Scala hasn't had it easy over the last few months with cast changes for both the opera and the ballet: Cecilia Bartoli's concert to close the Expo season in October was annulled on the day; Carlos … [Read more...] about La Scala soprano forced to renounce opening night and broadcast of new production
New York Opera Fest offers the city two months of opera
The inaugural New York Opera Fest kicks off today, 1 May, and it’s kicking off in a big way with an ambitious two months of programming. Among events this evening is Bronx Opera’s production of … [Read more...] about New York Opera Fest offers the city two months of opera
Cecilia Bartoli celebrates the joy of travelling piano, piano…
In this super-technological and hectic era, we need to go against the current and find time to take pleasure in a journey. We have forgotten the wonderful feeling of moving progressively forward in … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli celebrates the joy of travelling piano, piano…
Viktorina Kapitonova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I was dancing at home the whole time as a young child, my mum sent me with my sister to the house of the arts, where children could audition to study all … [Read more...] about Viktorina Kapitonova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Cecilia Bartoli cancels tonight’s concert at La Scala
Gramilano doesn't usually do announcements, but as the cancellation of Cecilia Bartoli's presence at La Scala tonight was only communicated mid-morning, and the national newspapers have run … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli cancels tonight’s concert at La Scala
The perfect Bohème at La Scala… magisterial, stunning!
La Scala’s La bohème has been a constant presence in the theatre’s programming after more than half a century and now edges towards its 240th performance. The 1963 production by Franco Zeffirelli is … [Read more...] about The perfect Bohème at La Scala… magisterial, stunning!
Cecilia Bartoli to sing Maria in West Side Story
At next year's Salzburg Whitsun Festival, Cecilia Bartoli will sing Maria in West Side Story! The exclamation mark is my surprise at the announcement, though I have no doubt that hers will be a lively … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli to sing Maria in West Side Story
Cecilia Bartoli to head Monte-Carlo Opera’s new baroque ensemble
Les Musiciens du Prince is a new baroque group under the umbrella organisation of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo which will have Cecilia Bartoli as its artistic director. She has signed a six-year contract … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli to head Monte-Carlo Opera’s new baroque ensemble
