Q&A When did you start dancing? I was 8 years old. My father was teaching me in the backyard of our house. Why did you start dancing? We are a big family — 11 children — my parents had only what they knew to offer us at that point and Ballet was that gift. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Nureyev and Baryshnikov. Which dancer do you most admire? Nureyev. … [Read more...] about Isaac Hernández answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Eleonora Abbagnato
Eleonora Abbagnato is confirmed as Director of the Rome Opera Ballet until 2021
Rome Opera has announced that Eleonora Abbagnato, étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet and current Director of the Rome Opera Ballet, will remain in her post until 31 December 2021. Virginia Raggi, the city’s mayor and President of the Rome Opera Theatre Foundation, said, It is something of great pride for our city that we are able to confirm an étoile like Eleonora Abbagnato as … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato is confirmed as Director of the Rome Opera Ballet until 2021
The Sleeping Beauty with Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov at the Rome Opera Ballet
Jean-Guillaume Bart, former Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, created his version of The Sleeping Beauty for the Yacobson Ballet Theatre in St Petersburg in 2016. His POB colleague Eleonora Abbagnato — currently both an Étoile in Paris as well as director of the Rome Opera Ballet — asked him to adapt it for Rome last year. Some of it works, some does not. He has opened up many … [Read more...] about The Sleeping Beauty with Marianela Nuñez and Vladislav Lantratov at the Rome Opera Ballet
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 Garritano, who writes under the name of Garret, wrote a book where she reflected on the nature of stringent diets and the search for the perfect physical form. La verità, vi prego, sulla … [Read more...] about La Scala’s fired ballerina, and eating-disorder author, Mary Garret on her first year back with the company
Robbins-Preljocaj-Ekman with Eleonora Abbagnato and the Rome Opera Ballet
Eleonora Abbagnato, who became director of the Rome Opera Ballet two years ago (while retaining her position as Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, and commitments such as a panel judge for the reality show Amici) has brought several works to the Italian capital that she has danced in the French capital. So it was with Jerome Robbins’ The Concert. THE CONCERT The piece saw … [Read more...] about Robbins-Preljocaj-Ekman with Eleonora Abbagnato and the Rome Opera Ballet
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 Manager, Carlo Fuortes, and the head of the ballet company, Eleonora Abbagnato. It was something I wasn’t expecting and it was very emotional... a truly wonderful surprise for me and a … [Read more...] about Introducing Rebecca Bianchi, Rome Opera Ballet’s new Principal ballerina
Nicola Alaimo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? I started singing when I was very young, but seriously in 1996, together with literature and music. I was a 17-year-old full of hopes and dreams that were securely locked away in my heart. Dreams that were not just centred on singing, obviously, and now, at 37, I can say that I’ve fulfilled many of those dreams, even … [Read more...] about Nicola Alaimo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Eleonora Abbagnato on being both an Étoile in Paris and a company director in Rome
I'm happy that the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, and Sovrintendente Fuortes, have had faith in my passion. My heart has always remained in Italy and this theatre needs people who believe passionately in dance. Eleonora Abbagnato was speaking at a press conference in Rome, her first appearance after her nomination as the Rome Opera Ballet’s new director. A previous director of … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato on being both an Étoile in Paris and a company director in Rome
Rome Opera House lines up its new creative team
The Sovrintendente of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Carlo Fuortes, has announced the nomination of the composers Giorgio Battistelli and Alessio Vlad as the theatre's artistic directors and has confirmed that Eleonora Abbagnato will become the director of the ballet company. Alessio Vlad will be responsible for opera programming and Giorgio Battistelli with organise theatre … [Read more...] about Rome Opera House lines up its new creative team
Eleonora Abbagnato becomes director of the Rome Opera Ballet
Eleonora Abbagnato is to become the new director of the Rome Opera Ballet. The official announcement from the Rome Opera's sovrintendente is expected in the next few days. It is known that Rome's mayor, Ignazio Marino, had championed her nomination, saying that she is "an intelligent and capable woman". L'Opera di Roma has been adrift since Riccardo Muti left his post as … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato becomes director of the Rome Opera Ballet