Q&A in italianoWhen did you start singing? When I was 11 to a disc of Rigoletto with Gobbi, Callas and Di Stefano; a blanket on my shoulder and an umbrella served as my cloak and sword!Above all I loved "La donna è mobile" and the role of the Duke of Mantua; my voice would crack but I didn’t give in!Why did you start singing? Because I thought it was … [Read more...] about Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Fabio Luisi
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. The season will also mark the 40th Anniversary of Riccardo Chailly’s collaboration with the theatre, and the 95th birthday of Franco Zeffirelli.The 2017-2018 Season kicks … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Robert Carsen’s spectacular production for La Scala of Don Giovanni created for the opening of the opera season in 2011, started a ten-performance run last night, which ends on 6 June.The Financial Times review opened with, No coup de théâtre ever matched Mozart’s opening chords as stunningly as this. This is a welcome return.Daniel Barenboim saw over a cast that … [Read more...] about Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Interview with Fabio Luisi, the Florence Opera’s new Musical Director
Fabio Luisi is the new music director of Florence’s Opera di Firenze and its spring festival, known as the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Zubin Mehta, who has been chief conductor of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino since 1985, will stay on as principal conductor emeritus.Luisi is currently the principal conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and general music … [Read more...] about Interview with Fabio Luisi, the Florence Opera’s new Musical Director
Massimo Cavalletti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italianoWhen did you start singing? I began singing when I was six years old in the choir at Saint Anne’s church in Lucca, where I was born. I started singing opera when I was twenty-one.Why did you start singing? I began singing because as soon as I discovered my voice it immediately became a need and an overwhelming desire. I knew from the beginning that … [Read more...] about Massimo Cavalletti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
A deep vein of sincere sentiment in ‘L’elisir d’amore’ at La Scala
Tullio Pericoli’s designs for L’Elisir d’amore, currently at La Scala in Milan, recall the Osbert Lancaster sets for The Royal Ballet’s La fille mal gardée. Both men worked as illustrators for newspapers and their designs give the sensation of being inside a children’s book illustration. Franco Zeffirelli imitated the style for a production of La fille du regiment… it must be … [Read more...] about A deep vein of sincere sentiment in ‘L’elisir d’amore’ at La Scala
Barbara Luisi: Photographing the Night and the Nude
Barbara Luisi was the first photographer to be featured on gramilano, and as the years pass we love her work more and more. Other photographers to be found here work as dance photographers being that dance, opera and classical music are the main focus of this blog. Yet Luisi doesn't take photographs of dancers, and only the occasional musician - her husband, conductor Fabio … [Read more...] about Barbara Luisi: Photographing the Night and the Nude
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 later... I always had a passion for … [Read more...] about The maestro’s nose: Fabio Luisi is making smells
Get on your running shoes to catch up with Fabio Luisi
Fabio Luisi’s a busy man. The 2013-2014 season finds him conducting operas at Zurich, the Met and La Scala, as well as giving countless concerts throughout the world.In his second season as General Music Director of the Zurich Opera, Luisi premieres new productions of Fidelio and Aida, with revivals of La straniera, Les contes d’Hoffmann, and Don Carlo with René … [Read more...] about Get on your running shoes to catch up with Fabio Luisi
Natalie Dessay pulls out of next month’s Manon performances at La Scala “for health reasons” – Netrebko takes over
Natalie Dessay was forced to cancel, even mid-performance, performances of La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera last month, where she was replaced by soprano Hei-Kyung Hong. The conductor was Fabio Luisi, the Italian maestro heavily tipped to take over from the ailing James Levine.Now at Milan's Teatro alla Scala she has withdrawn from performances of Manon which she was … [Read more...] about Natalie Dessay pulls out of next month’s Manon performances at La Scala “for health reasons” – Netrebko takes over