Vittoria Crespi Morbio, the writer of an exceptional collection of books produced by the Amici della Scala, has written monographs on important artists who have collaborated with Teatro alla Scala – some celebrated, some largely forgotten. These little gems are precious in the content but lacking in their scale. However, luckily, the Friends of La […]
Excelsior
Excelsior in Milan is more than just a big, brash ballet extravaganza
Excelsior has returned to the stage at La Scala and what better choice for the Milan Expo period than this joyous ballet, which fills the stage with more than a hundred dancers waving national flags from all corners of the globe. It is a ‘concept’ ballet – light triumphs over darkness – and it features […]
Pereira announces that Carla Fracci will return to the stage of La Scala
La Scala’s new sovrintendente, Alexander Pereira, has announced that Carla Fracci, the Italian ballerina par excellence, will return to the Milanese theatre that witnessed many of her triumphs during her long career. Sig.ra Fracci could give a masterclass in the theatre as Bergonzi did for the singers; his lessons were priceless. We are also thinking of her […]
Liliana Cosi: an Italian ballerina
Italian ballerina Liliana Cosi, born in Milan in 1941, had a glorious career but was overshadowed by the great Carla Fracci, rather like Margot Fonteyn’s fame almost obliterated many of the outstanding talents of her generation. After completing her studies at the ballet school at La Scala, she went to the Bolshoi for three years […]
La Scala ballerina, who denounced eating disorders in the company, is fired
“One ballerina in five at La Scala suffers from an eating disorder”, denounced Mariafrancesca Garritano (known on social networks and as an author also as Mary Garret) to The Observer newspaper. Multiple Facebook declarations, the contents of her book La verità, vi prego sulla danza! (The Truth, please, about Ballet), television appearances and interviews have made […]
Petra Conti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? 1988 Why did you start dancing? It was natural and spontaneous. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Baryshnikov. Which dancer do you most admire? Those who give their heart and soul on stage. What’s your favourite role? All the Romantic ones. What role have you never played […]
La Scala ballet excels on new Bolshoi stage
La Scala ballet has become the first foreign company to perform on the renovated stage of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. On Thursday, La Scala ballet dancers stunned the Moscow public with the theatre’s signature ballet Excelsior, composed in 1881, says The Voice of Russia. The ballet, choreographed by Luigi Manzotti, shows the master’s understanding of technological progress. […]
Carla Fracci and Josè Carreras present two new DVD releases from Milan’s La Scala
Hardy Classics, together with Italy’s RAI television, announced the release of two DVDs, both filmed at Teatro alla Scala in 1978, and both representing Milan’s theatre at its best: La Forza del Destino and the ballet Excelsior. Its enough to read down the cast lists to get an idea of the quality of these productions. La […]
La Scala’s 2011-2012 opera and ballet season announced
La Scala held a press conference this morning to announce its 2011-2012 season. How times, and timing, have changed. Just ten years ago the season was being presented in late June, with roles “to be announced” and events “to be confirmed”. Italians are resigned to their fate: inefficiency – like corrupt politicians – is the […]
