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Claudio Abbado

La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024

29 May 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Don Pasquale, photo Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

The 2023-2024 Opera Season of the Teatro alla Scala will present 14 productions, 10 of which are new: 2 operas by Giuseppe Verdi and 2 by Giacomo Puccini, and one opera each by Antonio Cesti, Luigi … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024

Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov on Boris Godunov, his 89th performance at La Scala

6 December 2022 by Gramilano 8 Comments

09 - Scenes from a rehearsal of Boris Godunov at La Scala on 11 November 2022, photo by Brescia e Amisano crop

The Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov will be Boris Godunov for the opening of Milan’s opera season on 7 December 2022. It will be Abdrazakov’s 89th appearance on La Scala’s stage and his seventh time … [Read more...] about Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov on Boris Godunov, his 89th performance at La Scala

Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

31 July 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Luciano Pavarotti - photo Primo Gnani, 1987

There will be a new Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Luciano Pavarotti, who died in 2007 at 71. The laying ceremony will be on 24 August 2022 at 11.30 am (Los Angeles time) at 7065 Hollywood … [Read more...] about Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

La Scala remembers Teresa Berganza: 1933-2022

13 May 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

L'italiana in Algeri 7 December 1973, photo by Erio Piccagliani © Teatro alla Scala crop

Few artists in the history of singing have served music with the elegance, freshness, and sense of style of Teresa Berganza, who died today in Madrid where she was born in 1933. For the entire … [Read more...] about La Scala remembers Teresa Berganza: 1933-2022

Riccardo Muti interview, part two: Pavarotti, communication, politics and music’s meaning

17 August 2021 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Riccardo Muti and the Vienna Philharmonic, photo by © Silvia Lelli_05

Riccardo Muti interview for his 80th birthday, part two You don't work for success, or the amount of applause and number of newspaper articles; you do it because you understand that our profession … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti interview, part two: Pavarotti, communication, politics and music’s meaning

Interview with La Scala intendant, Dominique Meyer: Green Passes and opening up

25 July 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dominique Meyer photo by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

I would like to know [how many at La Scala] are vaccinated, but the law on privacy does not allow us to know who is vaccinated and who isn’t. So, at a dress rehearsal, when someone sings without a … [Read more...] about Interview with La Scala intendant, Dominique Meyer: Green Passes and opening up

Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season

30 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mirella Freni as Adriana Lecouvreur in 1989, photo by Lelli e Masotti © Teatro alla Scala-sm

There will not be 24, but now 25 voices in La Scala’s gala to open its 2020-2021 season A riveder le stelle (Seeing the Stars Again). On 7 December, the video introducing the evening will feature the … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season

Mirella Freni dies at 84

9 February 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Mirella Freni, who would have been 85 on 27 February, has died at her home in Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. She had been fighting an illness for a long while and died … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni dies at 84

Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure

24 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Rolando Panerai in 1975 in La bohème, photo by Erio Piccagliani

With Rolando Panerai we lose a star of opera that we will not see the like of again, and many of his performances have shaped the history of La Scala’s opera house. La Scala left these words today, … [Read more...] about Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure

La Scala remembers Jessye Norman in words and pictures

1 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jessye Norman in Aida in 1972, photo Erio Piccagliani, crop

Jessye Norman didn’t sing very often at La Scala, but the impact on the few occasions when she appeared was great. The opera house released the following photos from its archives today to remember the … [Read more...] about La Scala remembers Jessye Norman in words and pictures

Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante

24 May 2018 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Cecilia Bartoli with Alexander Pereira © Marco Brescia,  Teatro alla Scala 2018

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

Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

5 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Franco Vassallo

Q&A   in italiano When did you start singing? When I was 11 to a disc of Rigoletto with Gobbi, Callas and Di Stefano; a blanket on my shoulder and an umbrella served as my cloak and … [Read more...] about Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives

6 September 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Recital in 1983

Luciano Pavarotti died ten years ago today, on 6 September 2007. Teatro alla Scala continually welcomed the great tenor to its stage for almost three decades, from 1965 until 1992. At the Milanese … [Read more...] about Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives

Frederica von Stade answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

17 September 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Q&A When did you start singing? Maybe at 5. Why did you start singing? I always loved to sing anywhere, anytime. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? Gwen Verdon, … [Read more...] about Frederica von Stade answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Joyce DiDonato and other winners of the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2015

8 April 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Joyce DiDonato is this year's winner in the Vocal category of the BBC Music Magazine Awards. This is the tenth edition of the awards which are voted for by readers of BBC Music Magazine and classical … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato and other winners of the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2015

Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video

27 February 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Mirella Freni is eighty, and to celebrate her birthday La Scala threw open its doors to her fans and opera lovers to see the great soprano once again on the stage that was hers for so many years. A … [Read more...] about Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video

Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

22 February 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

La Scala complete Symphonic and Recital programme: 2014 — 2015

18 June 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

  Symphonic Programme 29, 30 September, 1 October 2014 Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala Conductor: Zubin Mehta Franz Joseph Haydn Die Schöpfung Hob. XXI:2 Oratorio Julia Kleiter, … [Read more...] about La Scala complete Symphonic and Recital programme: 2014 — 2015

Peace is made, Bartoli’s back, and La Scala’s new season is announced

17 June 2014 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Well finally the Expo-season 2014-2015 at La Scala has been announced, with Alexander Pereira sitting chummily next to the smiling Milan mayor, Giuliano Pisapia. After the intrigue around the … [Read more...] about Peace is made, Bartoli’s back, and La Scala’s new season is announced

Medici.tv gives free access to their entire catalogue on World Music Day

17 June 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

World Music Day is a connected set of free public events which takes place each year on the 21st June, midsummer's day; it's also my birthday, but I don't think that's why it was chosen. Last year … [Read more...] about Medici.tv gives free access to their entire catalogue on World Music Day

Anna Caterina Antonacci on collaborations: Abbado, Muti, Pappano… and a disastrous Carmen

1 May 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Last night, at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Anna Caterina Antonacci finished a long and successful run as Cassandra in Les Troyens. Two years ago she was in a very different situation playing Carmen at … [Read more...] about Anna Caterina Antonacci on collaborations: Abbado, Muti, Pappano… and a disastrous Carmen

Milan’s tribute to Claudio Abbado – in words and pictures

28 January 2014 by Gramilano 1 Comment

An hour before Daniel Barenboim was scheduled to pick up his baton, there were already small groups of people huddled in various corners of Piazza della Scala in Milan. They were the first of … [Read more...] about Milan’s tribute to Claudio Abbado – in words and pictures

La Scala will stream Abbado tribute and Milan will plant 90,000 trees

24 January 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

In honour of Claudio Abbado, Milan's Teatro alla Scala will stream a live event for the first time, an event which has a particular importance for the theatre, and a symbolic one for the music world. … [Read more...] about La Scala will stream Abbado tribute and Milan will plant 90,000 trees

Great Italian conductor Claudio Abbado dies at 80

20 January 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Italian conductor Claudio Abbado, died this morning at the age of 80. He had been ill for several years, yet continued working until a couple of months ago. He was a greatly loved figure, with a big … [Read more...] about Great Italian conductor Claudio Abbado dies at 80

Rosalind Plowright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

27 December 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Rosalind Plowright crop

Q&A When did you start singing?  Age 12. I had always sung before but only found my true voice at this age. My father was a bass player and had been playing in the orchestra for a performance … [Read more...] about Rosalind Plowright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Daniel Barenboim gets an early 70th birthday present in Berlin

14 November 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

On the eve of his 70th birthday, Daniel Barenboim has succeeded in launching a dream project: the creation of a music academy where young Arabs and Israelis will be able to train and study side by … [Read more...] about Daniel Barenboim gets an early 70th birthday present in Berlin

Thomas Quasthoff has announced his retirement due to health issues

12 January 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff has announced he is ending his singing career after nearly 40 years due to health issues. In a statement he said, "My health no longer allows me to live up … [Read more...] about Thomas Quasthoff has announced his retirement due to health issues

Hélène Grimaud on her tiff with Claudio Abbado

2 November 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Hélène Grimaud and conductor Claudio Abbado's falling out over the choice of cadenza is elaborated on by Grimaud, one of the top pianists in the world, in a lengthy profile this week in the New … [Read more...] about Hélène Grimaud on her tiff with Claudio Abbado

Gramophone Magazine’s Classical Music Awards 2011 – shortlists

17 August 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Gramophone's shortlists are out for this year's awards. No real surprises, but then those Gramophone people have great taste! Here's a sample: Opera: Die Zauberflöte - René Jacobs;  Akademie für … [Read more...] about Gramophone Magazine’s Classical Music Awards 2011 – shortlists

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Pacific Northwest Ballet’s free streaming of Season Encore Performance

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Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, Rising, is out tomorrow

The Florence opera house to sell its vast archive to avoid closure

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GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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