The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced an at-home concert featuring some of the world’s greatest opera stars. A concert on 1 May at 9 pm (21.00 CEST - 15.00 EDT - 20.00 BST), organised by … [Read more...] about Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
Diana Damrau
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020
After Riccardo Chailly opens the season with Tosca, continuing the cycle of works by Puccini, he will conduct his first Strauss opera, as well as the complete Beethoven symphonies. Zubin Mehta will … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020
Diana Damrau sings Wolf and Strauss at La Scala: with pursed lips and a flick of the wrist
Diana Damrau’s warm reception at La Scala was appropriate for a singer who has given so much pleasure to Milanese audiences, beginning with her stratospheric debut as Europa in Salieri’s opera Europa … [Read more...] about Diana Damrau sings Wolf and Strauss at La Scala: with pursed lips and a flick of the wrist
Marie Duplessis, at 23, inspired Dumas then Verdi; now 23-year-old Maria Mudryak sings La traviata
La traviata, an opera that has moved audiences to tears since its premiere in Venice in 1853, was based on a true story of prostitution, obsession and love. Marie Duplessis was born in 1824 to a … [Read more...] about Marie Duplessis, at 23, inspired Dumas then Verdi; now 23-year-old Maria Mudryak sings La traviata
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
A pleasing new season at La Scala seems to tick all the right boxes, with half the programming dedicated to the Italian repertoire, some rarities, important international operas and a world premiere. … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
CD review: Diana Damrau in Meyerbeer’s Grand Operas – a diva in her prime
Meyerbeer: GRAND OPERA with Diana Damrau This glorious new album finds Diana Damrau in sparkling, top-notch form. The exacting demands that Meyerbeer makes on the soprano voice are shrugged off by … [Read more...] about CD review: Diana Damrau in Meyerbeer’s Grand Operas – a diva in her prime
Diana Damrau in glamorous (faux) fur for her new album, Grand Opera
Diana Damrau’s new album, Grand Opera, shows off the genre at its most grandiose and opulent, with eleven arias and duets by Meyerbeer. On the cover, which comes out in May, she wears suitably … [Read more...] about Diana Damrau in glamorous (faux) fur for her new album, Grand Opera
Diana Damrau and René Pape at La Scala: deaf-aids, lecterns and the Samsung whistle
Why are La Scala’s recitals like buses? No, it’s not a joke, but after four-months of opera and ballet, there have been two in a week. Once there used to be a recital every month, now recitals at La … [Read more...] about Diana Damrau and René Pape at La Scala: deaf-aids, lecterns and the Samsung whistle
The Royal Opera and Ballet in Cinema 2015-2016
Romeo and Juliet, 22 September at 7.15pm The Royal Ballet By Kenneth MacMillan Music: Sergey Prokofiev Le nozze di Figaro, 5 October at 6.45pm The Royal Opera Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Dir: … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera and Ballet in Cinema 2015-2016
600% bounses for La Scala’s musicians but Chailly isn’t happy
You may have already read about the refusal of some La Scala workers to perform Turandot on 1 May being that it is the International Workers' Day. However, it is also the opening day of the Milan … [Read more...] about 600% bounses for La Scala’s musicians but Chailly isn’t happy
Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81
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
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
La Scala complete Opera casts and dates: 2014 – 2015
4 December (Preview for young people), 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 23 December 2014 Ludwig van Beethoven Fidelio Conductor: Daniel Barenboim Director: Deborah Warner Sets and costumes: Chloe … [Read more...] about La Scala complete Opera casts and dates: 2014 – 2015
Being under 30 with Ratmansky at La Scala
The first audience to witness Alexei Ratmansky’s new ballet consisted entirely of ‘Under 30s’, La Scala’s scheme to attract a new and younger audience. Tickets cost just €10, and the two opening … [Read more...] about Being under 30 with Ratmansky at La Scala
Damrau, Armani, Bolle, Zeffirelli, Fracci et al, comment on La Scala’s Traviata
Diana Damrau (soprano) This evening I feel like Violetta: it's a special occasion, and I've never felt this way on a stage before and the success hasn't quite sunk in yet, but I'm happy and proud. … [Read more...] about Damrau, Armani, Bolle, Zeffirelli, Fracci et al, comment on La Scala’s Traviata
La Scala, 7 December 2013: La Traviata
La Scala's new production of La Traviata left Giorgio Armani, and many others, feeling 'perplexed'. Dmitri Tcherniakov's designs and direction got some hearty booing from the loggionisti in the … [Read more...] about La Scala, 7 December 2013: La Traviata
La Traviata at La Scala – first glimpses
Today's the day, tonight's the night. Milan celebrates Saint Ambrose (Sant'Ambrogio) and La Scala celebrates Giuseppe Verdi with a new production of La Traviata to open its 2013-2014 season. This … [Read more...] about La Traviata at La Scala – first glimpses
The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out
Ok, the headline is a bit over the top, but the vocal recitals at La Scala have been having a spot of bad luck recently, especially seeing that there are only seven recitals each season. Just over … [Read more...] about The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out
Fabio Luisi’s moving house – but will Jimmy Levine be moving out?
Fabio Luisi is moving to New York. He and his wife, Barbara Luisi, a former violinist and now a photographer, and their 13-year-old son are moving to New York in May, to an apartment on West 96th … [Read more...] about Fabio Luisi’s moving house – but will Jimmy Levine be moving out?
Scholar Philip Gossett disagrees with the Met’s musical decisions
As I write the audience at the Metropolitan Opera's first production of Rossini's Le Comte Ory are leaving their seats during the first interval. So far it has been warmly received, but a … [Read more...] about Scholar Philip Gossett disagrees with the Met’s musical decisions
