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
Christian Fagetti
Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Graham Spicer sees Swan Lake at La Scala - one of Rudolf Nureyev’s most successful choreographies. TitleSwan LakeCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate10 July 2025ReviewerGraham … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
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
Review: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – outstanding five-star dancing
Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – some odd dramatic choices but the company has never looked so good. TitleThe NutcrackerCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla … [Read more...] about Review: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – outstanding five-star dancing
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
Review – La Bayadère at La Scala with Nicoletta Manni and Kimin Kim
His first entrance saut de chats provoked audible gasps, he hovered in the air for his effortless double cabrioles during the engagement celebrations of the second act, Nureyev’s eccentric solo before … [Read more...] about Review – La Bayadère at La Scala with Nicoletta Manni and Kimin Kim
[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
Alexei Ratmansky’s new Coppélia opens La Scala’s Ballet Season (in streaming)
Alexei Ratmansky's new production of Coppélia will be broadcast abroad live on the Medici TV digital platform on 17 December, and on 28 December on Italian national television, Rai5 and RaiPlay. La … [Read more...] about Alexei Ratmansky’s new Coppélia opens La Scala’s Ballet Season (in streaming)
[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
[Photo Album] Wayne McGregor new work at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
Yesterday, 24 June 2022, was the world premiere of a Wayne McGregor work entitled LORE (to the music of Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces), arriving as a 'sequel' to his work AfteRite (to Stravinsky's Le … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] Wayne McGregor new work at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
How to celebrate a great dancer on stage? How to evoke memories of their artistry without creating a parody of their talent? Certainly, with Carla Fracci and the American Ballet Theatre video of … [Read more...] about Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
La Scala’s enthralling Contemporary Evening is a triumph
The Contemporary Evening was a triumph, with seven works: a contemporary ‘classic’, some lesser-known pieces, and a new creation. La Scala is finding it difficult to attract audiences back to the … [Read more...] about La Scala’s enthralling Contemporary Evening is a triumph
A Covid-free La Scala to stream its gala ‘A Tribute to Nureyev’
The A Tribute to Nureyev gala from La Scala, was due to be streamed on 28 February, but the recording was cancelled two hours before curtain-up when a weak positive case of Covid-19 was found in one … [Read more...] about A Covid-free La Scala to stream its gala ‘A Tribute to Nureyev’
Tribute to Nureyev – free ballet gala streaming from La Scala
A strong thread ties Rudolf Nureyev to La Scala, where he was acclaimed not only as a dancer but also as a choreographer. Nureyev has equally strong ties to La Scala Ballet's new director, Manuel … [Read more...] about Tribute to Nureyev – free ballet gala streaming from La Scala
Online: Carla Fracci gives two Giselle masterclasses from La Scala
Carla Fracci is perhaps most famous for her performances as Giselle, so how right that she should return to the theatre where her career started to coach the young dancers who will be performing the … [Read more...] about Online: Carla Fracci gives two Giselle masterclasses from La Scala
[Review and Photos] La Scala Ballet Gala sees dance return to its stage, with Ferri, Bonelli, Zakharova and Bolle
On 23 September, La Scala opened its doors for dance for the first time since February. It was a gala which had four showings, the last being yesterday. Social distancing in the auditorium was … [Read more...] about [Review and Photos] La Scala Ballet Gala sees dance return to its stage, with Ferri, Bonelli, Zakharova and Bolle
Danza&Danza Awards 2019 announced
The critics of the Italian magazine Danza&Danza (which also has an edition in English) huddle together at the beginning of each year to decided the ‘best’ of the previous year in Italian dance and … [Read more...] about Danza&Danza Awards 2019 announced
Manuel Legris’ Sylvia shows La Scala’s dancers on top form
Sylvia opened the 2019-2020 ballet season at La Scala. It is a co-production with the Wiener Staatsballett where it opened in November 2018. There have been no changes to Luisa Spinatelli’s sets and … [Read more...] about Manuel Legris’ Sylvia shows La Scala’s dancers on top form
Photo Album: First Night at La Scala with “Sylvia” in a New Production
Sylvia Photos of the opening night of Sylvia, with choreography by Manuel Legris, starring Martina Arduino, Claudio Coviello, Nicola Del Freo, Christian Fagetti, Maria Celeste Losa and … [Read more...] about Photo Album: First Night at La Scala with “Sylvia” in a New Production
Save the best until last – La Scala’s triple bill shows a company in excellent form
Save the best until last. Not a bad programming policy, and with La Scala’s recent triple bill, the last was Maurice Béjart’s Boléro. Obviously, with the first item on the programme being George … [Read more...] about Save the best until last – La Scala’s triple bill shows a company in excellent form
Review: Giselle at La Scala with Zakharova/Hallberg, Manni/Andrijashenko, Valerio/Coviello
Giselle is one of La Scala Ballet’s international calling cards. Together with Nureyev’s Don Quixote, this production has been seen all over the world, and rightly so. The company dances it … [Read more...] about Review: Giselle at La Scala with Zakharova/Hallberg, Manni/Andrijashenko, Valerio/Coviello
In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
If there is a ballet that belongs to La Scala, it’s Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, created for the ballet company in 1966 with Carla Fracci and Nureyev in the main roles. It was … [Read more...] about In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
The La Scala Ballet usually fields a first cast, and several alternative casts, but not with Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works – here it was very much a case of a first cast and a second cast. The first … [Read more...] about McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
First photos of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri, Federico Bonelli and Company dancers
These are the first photos of La Scala's restaging of Wayne McGregor's Woolf Works created for The Royal Ballet in 2015. The work was seen again in London in 2017, and in Milan, two of the original … [Read more...] about First photos of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri, Federico Bonelli and Company dancers
Winterreise at La Scala rejoices in Angelin Preljocaj’s sublimely melodic choreography
Winterreise is Angelin Preljocaj’s latest creation, danced to the complete Schubert cycle of Lieder. I stand by my arguments that a large theatre like La Scala is not the right theatre for a piece … [Read more...] about Winterreise at La Scala rejoices in Angelin Preljocaj’s sublimely melodic choreography
Photo Album: first look at Preljocaj’s new piece Winterreise for La Scala
Winterreise by Angelin Preljocaj New commission from Teatro alla Scala in Milan - runs from 24 January to 9 March 2019 Winterreise Franz Schubert Running Time: 1 hour 20 minutes Teatro alla … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at Preljocaj’s new piece Winterreise for La Scala
Lescaut almost steals the show among excellent performances in Manon at La Scala
I wonder how many reviews of Manon start by appraising the portrayal of Lescaut. A very important character of course, but certainly he has less plot points or stage time than Des Grieux and the … [Read more...] about Lescaut almost steals the show among excellent performances in Manon at La Scala
Review: Manon at La Scala with Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle
While the role of Manon doesn’t represent the pinnacle of acting challenges, it is surely one of the most satisfying. For a dancer who can act it is a gift, with each scene offering a new state to … [Read more...] about Review: Manon at La Scala with Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle
Photo Album: Manon opening night at La Scala with Zakharova and Bolle
First night photographs from La Scala Wednesday 17 October – 8pm – Premiere ManonSvetlana ZakharovaDes GrieuxRoberto BolleLescautNicola Del FreoMonsieur G.M.Alessandro GrilloLescaut’s mistress … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Manon opening night at La Scala with Zakharova and Bolle
Sneak peek of Don Quixote at La Scala – photos from today’s dress rehearsal
Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote returns again to La Scala with many of the company's newer Principals and Soloists making role debuts. Tomorrow night's cast - and that of this afternoon's dress … [Read more...] about Sneak peek of Don Quixote at La Scala – photos from today’s dress rehearsal