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
Claudio Coviello
Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
The latest issue of Dancing Times is out tomorrow. In September’s issue, I cover Wayne McGregor’s “amazing” Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri giving a “frighteningly intense” performance … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
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
Illustrated look at La Scala’s visit to Australia with Don Quixote and Giselle
After almost a month touring China, La Scala’s ballet company popped back to Milan for a run of Manon performances, before popping off to Australia for thirteen performances in Brisbane, from 7 to 18 … [Read more...] about Illustrated look at La Scala’s visit to Australia with Don Quixote and Giselle
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
Photo album – fifteen evenings of La Scala Ballet in China
La Scala’s Ballet Company have been touring China for almost a month, taking in four cities and dancing 15 performances of Don Quixote and Giselle. Last night’s performance of Giselle in the Grand … [Read more...] about Photo album – fifteen evenings of La Scala Ballet in China
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
Notes on Le Corsaire at La Scala… an alternative cast
The success of Le Corsaire’s first night cast at La Scala was reviewed here previously, but no less was an alternative cast which had a shining beacon in Martina Arduino as Medora. She is a lovely … [Read more...] about Notes on Le Corsaire at La Scala… an alternative cast
Le Corsaire docks at La Scala – many delights with a company on top form
Anna-Marie Holmes created her version of Le Corsaire for Boston ballet in 1997. A year later it arrived in New York when it was loaned out to the American Ballet Theatre. Italian dancer Giuseppe … [Read more...] about Le Corsaire docks at La Scala – many delights with a company on top form
Premiere of “Mahler 10”, Aszure Barton’s new dance piece for La Scala, reveals a small treasure
Aszure Barton has created a gem of a ballet for Milan’s Teatro alla Scala. Mahler 10 uses the first movement of Gustav Mahler’s unfinished Tenth Symphony and above it, Barton fashions a small world … [Read more...] about Premiere of “Mahler 10”, Aszure Barton’s new dance piece for La Scala, reveals a small treasure
Photo Album 2: Le Corsaire opens tonight at La Scala – here are some preview photos of this lavish new production
Italian designer Luisa Spinatelli has created scenes and designed 180 costumes for a new production of Le Corsaire at La Scala. [see PHOTO ALBUM 1 - LE CORSAIRE] Anne-Marie Holmes first staged the … [Read more...] about Photo Album 2: Le Corsaire opens tonight at La Scala – here are some preview photos of this lavish new production
Photo album: A first look at La Scala’s new production of Le Corsaire (opens 20 April)
Italian designer Luisa Spinatelli has created scenes and designed 180 costumes for a new production of Le Corsaire at La Scala. Anna-Marie Holmes, who has already staged the ballet at the American … [Read more...] about Photo album: A first look at La Scala’s new production of Le Corsaire (opens 20 April)
Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala with Roberto Bolle and others debuting on the red table
Maurice Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala in March, with Roberto Bolle dancing the La Mélodie for the first time. The 15-minute work was last seen in the theatre in 2003 when Sylvie Guillem danced … [Read more...] about Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala with Roberto Bolle and others debuting on the red table
Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations are lovingly performed by La Scala’s excellent cast
Legend goes that Bach wrote his Goldberg Variations for the Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony, Count Kaiserling. The Count suffered from insomnia and had Johann Gottlieb Goldberg on … [Read more...] about Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations are lovingly performed by La Scala’s excellent cast
Photo album: first look at Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations at La Scala
"Every time I listen to Bach I feel my heart jumps a beat. His music is for me an inexhaustible source of inspiration and has been since my early twenties, which was even before, in Düsseldorf, when I … [Read more...] about Photo album: first look at Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations at La Scala
La Scala brings Misty Copeland, Marianela Núñez and Roberto Bolle to California in Giselle
La Scala’s ballet company is in California, warming up for tomorrow’s opening night of Giselle at the Segerstrom Center. The company’s resident principal dancers will only be seen at the Saturday … [Read more...] about La Scala brings Misty Copeland, Marianela Núñez and Roberto Bolle to California in Giselle
La Scala’s fired ballerina, and eating-disorder author, Mary Garret on her first year back with the company
In 2016, Mary Garret walked through the artists’ entrance at La Scala, ready to take daily class again with the company that had fired her four years previously. The ballerina Mariafrancesca … [Read more...] about La Scala’s fired ballerina, and eating-disorder author, Mary Garret on her first year back with the company
First look at La valse – Symphony in C – Shéhérazade, opening tonight at La Scala
The new triple bill which opens at La Scala this evening is unique indeed! It features a new version of Ravel’s La valse by three choreographers, all dancers with the company. Stranger still is … [Read more...] about First look at La valse – Symphony in C – Shéhérazade, opening tonight at La Scala
La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland
The previously announced ballet to be performed at California’s Segerstrom Center by La Scala’s Ballet Company was Mauro Bigonzetti’s Cinderella, a ballet created for the opening of La Scala’s ballet … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland
First look: Stravinsky ballet evening at La Scala conducted by Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta will be conducting La Scala’s orchestra for a Stravinsky double-bill with the theatre’s ballet company: Petrushka and The Rite of Spring. Michel Fokine’s choreography and Alexandre … [Read more...] about First look: Stravinsky ballet evening at La Scala conducted by Zubin Mehta
Martina Arduino and Claudio Coviello as the star-crossed lovers at La Scala
The roles of Romeo and Juliet are unexpectedly hard to bring off in ballet. In the play, the timbre of the voice and meaning of the text explain what the two are thinking and feeling, whereas, using … [Read more...] about Martina Arduino and Claudio Coviello as the star-crossed lovers at La Scala
La Scala Ballet returns to Paris with Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
After the success in Milan before the summer, La Scala now takes Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake to Paris for six performances at the Palais des Congrès. The production was coproduced with the Opernhaus … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet returns to Paris with Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
Giselle masterclass – Carla Fracci and Pompea Santoro coach two very different versions
Golden anniversaries are occasions to celebrate and for a dancing school what could be better than having Carla Fracci give her first public masterclass; Mats Ek star, Pompea Santoro, teaching … [Read more...] about Giselle masterclass – Carla Fracci and Pompea Santoro coach two very different versions
La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company embark on a month-long tour
La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company have flown out of Milan for a month on tour which will see them in Korea, China, Japan and Russia. Tomorrow night at the Lotte Hall in Seoul, … [Read more...] about La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company embark on a month-long tour
La Scala dancers talk about being in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
The new director of La Scala’s ballet company, Mauro Bigonzetti, has chosen to present the new version of Swan Lake with in-house casting “to help our dancers grow”. This is very unusual at La Scala, … [Read more...] about La Scala dancers talk about being in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
Introducing Rebecca Bianchi, Rome Opera Ballet’s new Principal ballerina
At the end of The Nutcracker at Rome’s Teatro Nazionale on 20 December last year, 25-year-old Rebecca Bianchi was promoted to Principal Dancer of the Rome Opera Ballet by the theatre’s General … [Read more...] about Introducing Rebecca Bianchi, Rome Opera Ballet’s new Principal ballerina
The stars will come out in Rome tonight – Cipriani ballet gala
Repeating the success of last year’s ballet gala, Daniele Cipriani once again presents a Les Étoiles evening in Rome. Tonight and tomorrow night – 23 and 24 January – there is the opportunity to catch … [Read more...] about The stars will come out in Rome tonight – Cipriani ballet gala
Sarah Lamb makes her début at La Scala with Claudio Coviello in Manon
La Scala sometimes lets down its audience by casting a ‘local’ dancer when the star has cancelled. I apologise if I'm upsetting some of the company, but this is often a deluding experience resulting … [Read more...] about Sarah Lamb makes her début at La Scala with Claudio Coviello in Manon
