The exhibition “Maria Callas on stage-the La Scala Years” at La Scala’s Museum has been extended until 31 March. Since 15 September over 90,000 visitors have seen the exhibition, curated by theatre designer Margherita Palli. It is dedicated to the Milanese years of the great soprano with 14 original costumes and a selection of sketches […]
Covent Garden
Luisa Spinatelli – celebrating the life of the Milanese opera and ballet designer
Luisa Spinatelli… taking tasteful to a higher dimension The Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala), run by the indefatigable Anna Crespi, gathered together at the association’s spectacular headquarters, a short walk from La Scala, to celebrate one of Italy’s most important theatre designers. Luisa Spinatelli is one of a tight-knit core of Milanese artists, […]
Chris Merritt’s brave plea for help
Chris Merritt has written a heartfelt plea for financial aid on gofundme.com – he is asking fans and friends to help kick-start his career. Dear Ones, near and far…..I am turning to this entrepreneurial undertaking as a way to finance my career back into functionality. Due to very unfortunate managerial problems, my career has experienced a terrible […]
The Royal Opera House’s £27m ‘open up’ project to go ahead
The £27m scheme to ‘open up’ the Royal Opera House in London has been given the go ahead by Westminster City Council. The plans will make the entrances and street-level public spaces of the Opera House more open and inviting to the public. Alex Beard, the Chief Executive of Covent Garden, said, The ‘Open Up’ project aims […]
Alessandra Ferri’s pain at being rejected and joy at being reborn
The word “comeback” isn’t one I like; what I am doing is going ahead. These years off stage have taught me that I can’t live without dance. I am fully realised only when I dance. Alessandra Ferri is in Florence to dance Roland Petit’s Le jeune homme et la mort, one of her many projects since […]
Renato Cioni’s last interview: remembering Callas
Renato Cioni, who died today, left at interview just a few months ago, talking to Stephen Hastings, the editor of the Italian magazine Musica. Hastings asked him about the London Tosca with Maria Callas fifty years earlier. Two years before singing with Callas, I’d written her a letter, saying that I’d be the happiest man […]
Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84
Renato Cioni, the great Tuscan tenor, died today in his home town of Portoferraio, on the island of Elba, where he was born almost 85 years ago. His career took off in the mid 1950s when he sang in a television production of Madama Butterfly with Anna Moffo, and Pinkerton was the role with which he made his début […]
The maestro’s nose: Fabio Luisi is making smells
A silly title, to grab your attention, about the very serious hobby of one of the world’s top conductors: Fabio Luisi creates perfumes. Luisi’s pastime has recently taken on a more professional aspect, as he’s decided to sell his creations commercially: FL Parfums. All proceeds, however, will go to the Luisi Academy. But more of that […]
Sergei Polunin on bringing Mayerling to Moscow, and dancing until 50
Sergei Polunin, who famously defected from the Royal Ballet just over a year ago, has found a home at the Stanislavsky theatre, and fame through winning a television dance competition. Settling down after his semi-breakdown, he is demonstrating the value of the Royal Ballet School and Company by returning to partner Tamara Rojo in her farewell […]
Mark S Doss answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? I was in the 5th grade when the music teacher, Mrs Mapson, asked me to sing the Wells Fargo Wagon song from Music Man. She heard me sing it back to her and then exclaimed, “Wow, that’s beautiful! You could go to New York right now and make a […]
