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The end of an era – the last issue of Dancing Times is published

27 August 2022 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Dancing Times

The last ever issue of Dancing Times magazine has been published, the September 2022 edition, after 112 years of uninterrupted work in communicating all things dance to its readership. Jonathan … [Read more...] about The end of an era – the last issue of Dancing Times is published

Dancing Times magazine to close after 112 years

9 August 2022 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Dancing Times, November 2021

I write with great sadness that Dancing Times magazine will cease publication and that the September 2022 issue will be its last. As many of you know, I have been writing a column for the magazine … [Read more...] about Dancing Times magazine to close after 112 years

La Scala cancels the opening of its ballet season for Covid

10 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

La Bayadère - version by Makarova - photo by Marco Brescia, Teatro alla Scala

An outbreak of Covid invections among the dancers at La Scala has led to the premiere of the new production of La Bayadère on 15 December being cancelled, or rather postponed. Hoping that the current … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels the opening of its ballet season for Covid

Italian theatres return to 100% capacity

11 October 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Teatro alla Scala

From today, 11 October, Italian theatres return to 100% capacity. After months of struggling with an income from 50% houses the Council of Ministers has decided that theatres, cinemas, and cultural … [Read more...] about Italian theatres return to 100% capacity

Opera at La Scala cancelled for Covid-19

24 May 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Reopening concert, photos by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala (5)

La Scala has been forced to cancel tomorrow's performance of L'italiana in Algeri after a company member tested positive yesterday morning, Sunday 23 May, for Covid-19. Only one performance for … [Read more...] about Opera at La Scala cancelled for Covid-19

Italian dance impresario offers takeaway theatre shows

7 April 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Daniele Cipriani, photo by Massimo Danza

Takeaway culture was an idea that came to Italian impresario Daniele Cipriani one morning on his way to his local bar in Rome: By now we are used to taking everything away, from dinner to coffee, … [Read more...] about Italian dance impresario offers takeaway theatre shows

Vail Dance Festival returns for the 2021 Season

1 April 2021 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Calvin Royal III in George Balanchine’s Apollo, photo by Christopher Duggan 2019

The Vail Dance Festival has announced plans to return in-person for its 32nd season running from 30 July 30 to 9 August 2021, with seven World Premiere Dances, four Commissioned Scores, the return to … [Read more...] about Vail Dance Festival returns for the 2021 Season

La Scala calls for vaccinations for its workers to reopen the theatre

9 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dominique Meyer (left) with Carlos Alvarez © Teatro alla Scala

La Scala's Intendent, Dominique Meyer, has launched an appeal to the government: If we want to reopen Italy's theatres there is only one solution, – he told the ANSA news agency – and that is that … [Read more...] about La Scala calls for vaccinations for its workers to reopen the theatre

38 members of La Scala’s ballet company test positive for Covid

4 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Corps de ballet photo by Marco Brescia Teatro alla Scala

There has been an outbreak of coronavirus cases in the Corps de Ballet at La Scala, discovered because of the theatre's regular testing programme. 35 dancers and three members of the Ballet … [Read more...] about 38 members of La Scala’s ballet company test positive for Covid

Russian Ballet: Quarantine, death, and the reality of performing during a pandemic

19 December 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Igor Tsvirko in Spartacus, Bolshoi Ballet

Many ballet lovers – both online fans and offline friends – have been voicing their resentment that ballet in Europe and America is either not permitted, or has to comply with social distancing … [Read more...] about Russian Ballet: Quarantine, death, and the reality of performing during a pandemic

Dancers leaving The Royal Ballet in 2020

15 December 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The following dancers have decided to leave The Royal Ballet during the 2020/21 Season, taking up voluntary redundancy as part of the Royal Opera House restructure in response to the coronavirus … [Read more...] about Dancers leaving The Royal Ballet in 2020

Korea National Ballet told to reinstate quarantine-breaking dancer

15 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Na Dae-han in Somebody

Earlier this year, the Korea National Ballet fired 28-year-old corps de ballet dancer Na Dae-han for travelling abroad during quarantine in late February. A statement in March read: As a national … [Read more...] about Korea National Ballet told to reinstate quarantine-breaking dancer

The Royal Opera to put on fully-staged performances of Tosca

8 December 2020 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Tosca © ROH 2016 Photo by Catherine Ashmore

The Royal Opera’s Winter 2020/21 programme will open with 12 performances of Tosca. The revival of Jonathan Kent’s 2006 production will see Anna Netrebko in the title role, Yusif Eyvazov, Gerald … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera to put on fully-staged performances of Tosca

La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December

25 November 2020 by Gramilano 7 Comments

La Scala 7 December 2020

Despite coronavirus restrictions, La Scala will celebrate the opening of its season 2020-2021 – however long or short it may be – on 7 December, the feast of Saint Ambrose, Milan’s saint’s day. The … [Read more...] about La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December

Plácido Domingo cancels Italian dates for health problems

11 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Placido-Domingo-photo-by-Pedro-Walker

Plácido Domingo has cancelled his Italian commitments in November due to a health problem that has arisen in the last few hours. The unnamed problem prohibits him from travelling and working, … [Read more...] about Plácido Domingo cancels Italian dates for health problems

Sergio Bernal on his new Dance Company “This is not just a show, it is the new Sergio”

28 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Sergio Bernal Dance Company

How were dancer Sergio Bernal and choreographer Ricardo Cué to know that their plans to form a new company would coincide with a global pandemic. A company based in Madrid too, one of the world’s … [Read more...] about Sergio Bernal on his new Dance Company “This is not just a show, it is the new Sergio”

Theatres to close in Italy from tomorrow

25 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, has announced that from tomorrow until (at least) the 24 November all theatres and concert halls will close. This is due to the rapidly escalating numbers … [Read more...] about Theatres to close in Italy from tomorrow

English National Ballet receives €3m grant from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

24 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

English National Ballet has been awarded a grant of £3 million through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, announced today. Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of English National Ballet said, I … [Read more...] about English National Ballet receives €3m grant from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

With Milan under curfew, Jonas Kaufmann sings La Scala programme without pause

23 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch, photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala 2020 -01

The curfew which was introduced in parts of Italy yesterday to combat the rising rate of coronavirus infections started at 11pm. While it is possible to return from a theatre after this time, it is … [Read more...] about With Milan under curfew, Jonas Kaufmann sings La Scala programme without pause

Bavarian State Ballet in quarantine and Swan Lake cancelled

22 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Swan Lake, with Prisca Zeisel and Jinhao Zhang with corps de ballet of the Bayerische Staatsoper © S Gherciu

Yesterday the Bayerische Staatsoper announced multiple members of the ballet company testing positive for the coronavirus. Their announcement said, Unfortunately, the performances of Swan Lake … [Read more...] about Bavarian State Ballet in quarantine and Swan Lake cancelled

Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus

19 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Francesco Meli with Giulio Zappa © Marco Brescia, Teatro alla Scala 2020

Tenor Francesco Meli has tested positive for coronavirus, though he is asymptomatic. Tonight's last concert performance of Aida at La Scala should have seen Meli as Radamès, instead the role will … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus

[Review] In difficult times, the MilanOltre Contemporary Dance Festival completes a month of shows

17 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Les nuits barbares © Frédérique Calloch

It is a minor miracle that the MilanOltre contemporary dance festival managed to present its 34th edition this year. The organisers made many changes to the original programme – the company from China … [Read more...] about [Review] In difficult times, the MilanOltre Contemporary Dance Festival completes a month of shows

UK government’s £250 million for arts organisations

12 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

ROH-Auditorium-©-ROH-Dominic-Klimowski-2011

A £250 million ‘bailout’ fund will save “1,385 theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and local venues facing the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and ensure they … [Read more...] about UK government’s £250 million for arts organisations

The Royal Ballet is Back on Stage – Friday 9 October

23 September 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Live From Covent Garden rehearsals with Vadim Muntagirov 19 June 2020

The Royal Ballet is Back on Stage, returning for a live-streamed performance from the stage of Covent Garden on Friday 9 October at 7.30pm. After an absence of seven … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet is Back on Stage – Friday 9 October

Anna Netrebko in hospital recovering from Covid-19

17 September 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Anna Netrebko, photo by Ruven Afanador

Anna Netrebko has been in hospital in Moscow recovering from pneumonia for the last five days. While she was in the hospital she was tested for the coronavirus and found to be positive. Now that … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko in hospital recovering from Covid-19

La Scala announces its opening gala programme

15 September 2020 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Le Parc with Alessandra Ferri and Federico Bonelli © Antonio Raffaele

La Scala has announced the programme, though not with full casting, of its Ballet Gala which marks the return of the company to the stage after the cancellation of the theatre's programming in March … [Read more...] about La Scala announces its opening gala programme

UK government to reopen theatres and stadiums with new world-beating scheme

6 September 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

UK government ministers are aiming to open theatres and sports stadiums by 1 November without social distancing. According to The Sunday Times, the prime minister and Oliver Dowden, the culture … [Read more...] about UK government to reopen theatres and stadiums with new world-beating scheme

La Scala would lose €50,000 a day if it reopened

26 May 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Teatro alla Scala

La Scala would lose €50,000 a day if it reopened, complying with the social distancing guidelines imposed by the law passed on 17 May. The opera house’s new intendant, Dominique Meyer, will present … [Read more...] about La Scala would lose €50,000 a day if it reopened

Google Arts & Culture puts thousands of images and documents from La Scala’s archive online

8 May 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

View from the stage, Street View, Teatro alla Scala Google Arts and Culture

Google Arts & Culture is a non-profit initiative with the tech giant working alongside cultural institutions and artists around the world to bring some of the world’s art and culture online so … [Read more...] about Google Arts & Culture puts thousands of images and documents from La Scala’s archive online

Dancing Times, May Edition with the Danza in Italia column

7 May 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Danza in Italia, May 2020 spread

Life is challenging, but Dancing Times soldiers on, as it has done for 110 years, more than any other dance publication. In all that time, even during world wars, it has never missed publishing an … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, May Edition with the Danza in Italia column

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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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