Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev's The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala with an electrifying Martina Arduino as Aurora. TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate9 … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala – thrilling in its eccentricity
Ezio Frigerio
English National Ballet announces its 2026-2027 season – A Season to ‘Feel More’
English National Ballet’s 2026-2027 season “opens up the possibilities of ballet, offering more ways to discover, feel and engage with ballet, on stage and beyond”. English National Ballet’s … [Read more...] about English National Ballet announces its 2026-2027 season – A Season to ‘Feel More’
Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Graham Spicer sees Swan Lake at La Scala - one of Rudolf Nureyev’s most successful choreographies. TitleSwan LakeCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate10 July 2025ReviewerGraham … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s Swan Lake at La Scala with Alice Mariani and Navrin Turnbull
Giorgio Strehler’s famous production of Falstaff returns to La Scala and will be live streamed
The 1980 production of Falstaff by the legendary Italian director Giorgio Strehler and designer Ezio Frigerio, returns to La Scala where it will be conducted by Daniele Gatti, who hasn’t conducted an … [Read more...] about Giorgio Strehler’s famous production of Falstaff returns to La Scala and will be live streamed
Interview: Theatre designer Jérôme Kaplan – Be yourself! Always be curious and dream.
Between projects in New York, Copenhagen and Monaco, theatre designer Jérôme Kaplan finds time to talk to Paul Arrowsmith. It’s ten years since we last spoke – what have been your … [Read more...] about Interview: Theatre designer Jérôme Kaplan – Be yourself! Always be curious and dream.
Books: Amici della Scala celebrates Italy’s theatre designers – Luciano Damiani, Anna Anni, Gabriella Pescucci, Franca Squarciapino, Luisa Spinatelli
For over twenty years, the association Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala) has produced books dedicated to the set and costume designers who have worked in Milan’s opera house. Since 2002 there … [Read more...] about Books: Amici della Scala celebrates Italy’s theatre designers – Luciano Damiani, Anna Anni, Gabriella Pescucci, Franca Squarciapino, Luisa Spinatelli
La Scala announces its 2024-2025 Opera Season
La Scala in Milan has announced it's opera programming for the 2024-2025 season. The inaugural title of the 2024-2025 season, La forza del destino – one of Verdi’s most important and complex works – … [Read more...] about La Scala announces its 2024-2025 Opera Season
[Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala
A Swan Lake with two of the Bolshoi Ballet Company principals who left the company after Russia invaded Ukraine – Olga Smirnova, one of Russia’s brightest stars, and the Italian Jacopo Tissi who was … [Read more...] about [Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala
In Memoriam 2022: Singers, Dancers, Actors, Writers, Directors
In memoriam 2022: a personal list of some of the artists the world lost in 2022 NameDatesAgeDescriptionMax Riebl26 June 1991 - 30 April 202230Australian countertenorOleksandr Shapoval9 … [Read more...] about In Memoriam 2022: Singers, Dancers, Actors, Writers, Directors
Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91
Ezio Frigerio has died at the age of 91. He made theatre history alongside Giorgio Strehler, Rudolf Nureyev, Eduardo De Filippo, and Vittorio De Sica. He leaves his wife and frequent collaborator, the … [Read more...] about Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91
[Photo album] First look at La Scala’s new Bayadère
After Covid infections forced the premiere and subsequent performances to be cancelled, Monday 21 December will finally see the opening night of La Scala's new production of Rudolf Nureyev's La … [Read more...] about [Photo album] First look at La Scala’s new Bayadère
Italy mourns the death of opera director Graham Vick at 67
Italy mourns the loss of the opera director Graham Vick who died today at 67 of Covid-related complications. Vick worked extensively in Italy and the Teatro Fenice in Venice, the Macerata Opera … [Read more...] about Italy mourns the death of opera director Graham Vick at 67
Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky’s daughter Anastasia jumps ahead
There is an interesting debut at the Astana Opera House on 30 January: ballet company soloist Anastasia Zaklinskaya will dance the role of Nikiya in La Bayadère. Many will probably not know her … [Read more...] about Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky’s daughter Anastasia jumps ahead
Free streaming of a new performance of Così fan tutte from La Scala
On Saturday 23 January, Mozart's Così fan tutte will be streamed from Teatro alla Scala, Milan. Since the 28 December, La Scala has been rehearsing Così fan tutte for a recording in the theatre … [Read more...] about Free streaming of a new performance of Così fan tutte from La Scala
Mirella Freni dies at 84
Mirella Freni, who would have been 85 on 27 February, has died at her home in Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. She had been fighting an illness for a long while and died … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni dies at 84
In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
If there is a ballet that belongs to La Scala, it’s Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, created for the ballet company in 1966 with Carla Fracci and Nureyev in the main roles. It was … [Read more...] about In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
This morning, Frédéric Olivieri, director of La Scala’s ballet company, announced the theatre's 2019-2020 season: Sylvia 14 December 2019 – 14 January 2020 Music: Léo Delibes Choreography: Manuel … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
Ferruccio Soleri – After 60 years and 2,283 performances, Italy’s Arlecchino bows out
On 13 May, a very important actor took his final bow. Goldoni’s Harlequin, servant to two masters, known in Italy as simply Arlecchino, has seen Ferruccio Soleri in the leading role since 1959. Now, … [Read more...] about Ferruccio Soleri – After 60 years and 2,283 performances, Italy’s Arlecchino bows out
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
To Carla Fracci, on your 80th Birthday, from your colleagues and friends
Today is the 80th birthday of the Italian ballerina, Carla Fracci. She was born in Milan on 20 August 1936. To celebrate we asked fellow ballerinas, as well as actresses and designers she has worked … [Read more...] about To Carla Fracci, on your 80th Birthday, from your colleagues and friends
Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘reconstruction’ of The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala made for one of the most interesting and satisfying evenings that I’ve had in the theatre for a long time. It is charming, it is … [Read more...] about Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video
Mirella Freni is eighty, and to celebrate her birthday La Scala threw open its doors to her fans and opera lovers to see the great soprano once again on the stage that was hers for so many years. A … [Read more...] about Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video
Amici della Scala celebrates Lila de Nobili with Frigerio, Fracci, Bruson and …
The annual presentation of the latest additions to the series of books produced by the Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala) is quite an event. It is held in the grand foyer on the first floor of … [Read more...] about Amici della Scala celebrates Lila de Nobili with Frigerio, Fracci, Bruson and …
A magical Natalia Osipova with Claudio Coviello in Romeo and Juliet
Natalia Osipova took my breath away with her extraordinary portrayal of Juliet in Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet at Teatro della Scala. The whole company shone, the soloists were excellent, and … [Read more...] about A magical Natalia Osipova with Claudio Coviello in Romeo and Juliet
Natalia Osipova and Claudio Coviello début in Nureyev’s Swan Lake
Prince Siegfried sleeps on his throne and in his dream he sees the evil Rothbart carrying off a white swan into the sky. This is how Rudolf Nureyev's version of Swan Lake begins, and ends. The ballet … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Claudio Coviello début in Nureyev’s Swan Lake
Claudio Coviello spreads his wings in Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova
In a brave casting move, Makhar Vaziev, director of La Scala's ballet company, has given new-boy Claudio Coviello the opening night of Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova. 21-year-old Claudio … [Read more...] about Claudio Coviello spreads his wings in Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova