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Gramilano logo 2023

- dance, opera, photography...

Fabio Luisi

Teatro La Fenice in Venice and Beatrice Venezi – set to become the theatre’s first music director – cut ties

27 April 2026 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Beatrice Venezi

Beatrice Venezi is no longer the appointed music director at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. The theatre and the conductor have terminated their relationship. The theatre’s Foundation announced that … [Read more...] about Teatro La Fenice in Venice and Beatrice Venezi – set to become the theatre’s first music director – cut ties

​Interview: Mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli – enjoying what I have

13 September 2025 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Giuseppina Bridelli, photo by Andrea Chemelli

Mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli, although not yet 40, has had a career lasting almost two decades. After winning the highly respected Aslico competition in 2007, she made her debut at the age of just … [Read more...] about ​Interview: Mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli – enjoying what I have

La Scala announces its 2024-2025 Opera Season

29 May 2024 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Teatro alla Scala

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

[Interview] Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini – “voices hold an ancestral power over me”

29 November 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Sesto Quatrini, photo by Fabrizio Sansoni

The Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini is currently in Germany at the Deutsche Oper Berlin preparing for performances of Rigoletto which begin this week. Until October he was at The Royal Opera House … [Read more...] about [Interview] Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini – “voices hold an ancestral power over me”

LaScalaTv ‘live from Milan’ is now available on subscription

21 November 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

2021 Don Giovanni, photo Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

On sale from today are one-month or one-year subscriptions to access the content of the theatre's streaming platform from 1 January 2024. There are gift subscriptions available, discounts on annual … [Read more...] about LaScalaTv ‘live from Milan’ is now available on subscription

LaScalaTv, La Scala’s new streaming platform, is now live

15 February 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Madina - Roberto Bolle, Antonella Albano and the corps de ballet, photo by Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

Yesterday was the first live stream from LaScalaTv (of I Vespri siciliani with a superb cast) and other operas, ballets, concerts and recitals will follow. La Scala has been building up a catalogue … [Read more...] about LaScalaTv, La Scala’s new streaming platform, is now live

[Interview] In conversation with Italian tenor Piero Pretti as he returns to La Scala for another debut

28 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Piero Pretti crop

A new production of I Vespri Siciliani by Argentinian director Hugo de Ana – who has also designed the sets and costumes – opens at La Scala this evening, 28 January 2023. The performance will be … [Read more...] about [Interview] In conversation with Italian tenor Piero Pretti as he returns to La Scala for another debut

Festival della Valle d’Itria 2021 with Luisi, Oropesa, Calleja…

15 May 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Festival della Valle d'Itria 47th Edition

Festival della Valle d'Itria: for the 47th edition the great voices of opera in Martina Franca from July 17 to August 5. Festival music director Fabio Luisi will be on the podium for the opening … [Read more...] about Festival della Valle d’Itria 2021 with Luisi, Oropesa, Calleja…

With Milan under curfew, Jonas Kaufmann sings La Scala programme without pause

23 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch, photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala 2020 -01

The curfew which was introduced in parts of Italy yesterday to combat the rising rate of coronavirus infections started at 11pm. While it is possible to return from a theatre after this time, it is … [Read more...] about With Milan under curfew, Jonas Kaufmann sings La Scala programme without pause

Aida suspended as entire La Scala company sent home in quarantine

19 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jonas Kaufmann

After tenor Francesco Meli tested positive for Covid-19 and was substituted yesterday by Jonas Kaufmann, La  Scala arranged for the whole Aida cast to be tested. The first of the swab tests was … [Read more...] about Aida suspended as entire La Scala company sent home in quarantine

Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

5 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Franco Vassallo

Q&A   in italiano When 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 … [Read more...] about Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018

31 May 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Riccardo Chailly, photo by Brescia e Amisano, 2017

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

Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala

7 May 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Don Giovanni   Thomas Hampson, photo by Brescia Amisano – Teatro alla 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 … [Read more...] about Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala

Interview with Fabio Luisi, the Florence Opera’s new Musical Director

19 February 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Interview with Fabio Luisi, the Florence Opera’s new Musical Director

Massimo Cavalletti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

13 October 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A   in italiano When 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 … [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

12 October 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [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

23 March 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Barbara Luisi: Photographing the Night and the Nude

The maestro’s nose: Fabio Luisi is making smells

3 February 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [Read more...] about The maestro’s nose: Fabio Luisi is making smells

Get on your running shoes to catch up with Fabio Luisi

9 September 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [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

22 May 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

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 … [Read more...] about Natalie Dessay pulls out of next month’s Manon performances at La Scala “for health reasons” – Netrebko takes over

Behind every great woman is a great man: the man being conductor Fabio Luisi and the woman his photographer wife Barbara

29 March 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Barbara Luisi was, no is, a violinist, but her passion for photography has taken over and her hobby has become her major activity. Though she begun studying the violin at 9 in her home town, Munich, … [Read more...] about Behind every great woman is a great man: the man being conductor Fabio Luisi and the woman his photographer wife Barbara

James Levine’s statement on his decision to withdraw from the Met until after the 2012-13 season

10 December 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

No one will be surprised, but James Levine, still recovering from a spinal injury, has now written a statement explaining his physical condition, and explaining his decision to pull out of conducting … [Read more...] about James Levine’s statement on his decision to withdraw from the Met until after the 2012-13 season

James Levine cancels his next performances at the Met

6 September 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The end of an era: James Levine, the Metropolitan Opera's musical director and principal conductor, has cancelled his fall performances. According to the Met's press release, Levine suffered a fall … [Read more...] about James Levine cancels his next performances at the Met

Fabio Luisi’s moving house – but will Jimmy Levine be moving out?

25 April 2011 by Gramilano 2 Comments

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?

Fabio Luisi chasing James Levine’s job leaves an opening for the young Daniele Rustioni

31 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Last night Daniele Rustioni conducted Aida at Covent Garden. At 28 he is certainly young, but as assistant to the house musical director Antonio Pappano he was an obvious and pleasing choise to … [Read more...] about Fabio Luisi chasing James Levine’s job leaves an opening for the young Daniele Rustioni

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Gramilano newsletter 2019

INTERVIEWS

Anna Netrebko, photo by Ruven Afanador

Interview with Anna Netrebko on Tosca at La Scala: kissing, killing, and Kabaivanska

Taming Our Trauma - photo by Pippa Samaya - 11

Taming Our Trauma – creating inclusive and tolerant spaces for dancers

Mariposa by DeNada photo by Joe Armitage, crop

Interview: Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra on Mariposa – a Queer Tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly

Grand Pas Classique at English National Ballet, photo by Laurent Liotardo

Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky

Maria Callas at La Scala, Il turco in Italia with Franco Zeffirelli 1955

Franco Zeffirelli, at 96, on Anna Magnani and Maria Callas, his career, and old age

Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake crop

Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”

Sebastian Catana

[Interview] Baritone Sebastian Catana: never scream or shout

Piazza della Scala, Milan

Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala, on the new streaming service, Russia, and audiences

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer, aka 'Gramilano', is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.

Since 2022, Gramilano has been pleased to welcome guest authors: Paul Arrowsmith, Donatella Bertozzi, Georgina Butler, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Ann Haskins, Lily Hyde, Marta Mele, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Lucía Piquero, Graham Watts, Deborah Weiss, and Lydia Wharf.

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