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Franco Zeffirelli

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

Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan

14 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Otello 1976 photo by Erio Piccagliani 01

Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence on 12 January 1923. Teatro alla Scala anticipates the celebration of the great director's centenary with the exhibition “Franco Zeffirelli - The La Scala Years" … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan

[Photo album] Carla Fracci’s Giselle in Rome with Susanna Salvi and Michele Satriano

6 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

05 - Giselle - Susanna Salvi (Giselle), photo by Yasuko Kageyama, Opera di Roma

Rome Opera Ballet’s Giselle is dedicated to Carla Fracci and is the last ballet of the 2021-2022 season in the capital. It is the choreographic version she created in 2004 while she was director of … [Read more...] about [Photo album] Carla Fracci’s Giselle in Rome with Susanna Salvi and Michele Satriano

Rome Opera Season 2022-2023

24 July 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Adams Passion - photo by Kristian Kruuser & Kaupo Kikkas

The Rome Opera season has been announced with nine programmes to be staged during 2022-2023. Dialogues des Carmélites according to Emma Dante live on Rai5 and Radio3 On Sunday 27 November 2022, … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Season 2022-2023

Soprano Angel Blue pulls out of production at “racist” Verona Arena

16 July 2022 by Gramilano 7 Comments

Angel Blue photographed by Michelle Dudley Photography crop

“The use of blackface is offensive, humiliating, and outright racist,” said Californian soprano Angel Blue, as she announced that she was pulling out of La Traviata at the Verona Arena. She does … [Read more...] about Soprano Angel Blue pulls out of production at “racist” Verona Arena

Fourth Italian director in the history of Glyndebourne directs Alcina

1 July 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Alcina rehearsal, May 2022, Glyndebourne.

Francesco Micheli is the fourth Italian director to stage a new opera production in the 88-year history of the Glyndebourne Festival. His production of Handel’s Alcina opens tomorrow, 2 July 2022, and … [Read more...] about Fourth Italian director in the history of Glyndebourne directs Alcina

[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”

22 April 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

GALA FRACCI - L'heure exquise - Alessandra Ferri Carsten Jung - photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala (4)

When I was three, I was already living out stories in my head and had the feeling of another reality calling me. Even though my parents didn't go to the theatre, I said, “I want to go to dance … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”

Italian theatre director Filippo Crivelli dies at 93

6 February 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Ballo Excelsior, 2015, photo by Brescia e Amisano

Filippo Crivelli: born Milan, 27 March 1928 – died Milan, 6 February 2022 The theatre director Filippo Crivelli, who guided many artists on stage – from Maria Callas to Carla Fracci – died during … [Read more...] about Italian theatre director Filippo Crivelli dies at 93

Positano Premia la Danza dedicated to Carla Fracci

22 September 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Television interview with Beppe Menegatti

Positano Premia la Danza is an award ceremony followed by a gala that has been held almost every year for almost half a century – next year marks its 50th edition. The Sirenusas islands (more … [Read more...] about Positano Premia la Danza dedicated to Carla Fracci

La Scala records the last artists for tonight’s opening gala

7 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Placido Domingo photo by Rudy Amisano, December 2020

Yesterday Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak and Lisette Oropesa recorded their sections of tonight's opening gala at La Scala (5pm CET) and today Camilla Nylund, Andreas Schager, Francesco Meli and … [Read more...] about La Scala records the last artists for tonight’s opening gala

Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season

30 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mirella Freni as Adriana Lecouvreur in 1989, photo by Lelli e Masotti © Teatro alla Scala-sm

There will not be 24, but now 25 voices in La Scala’s gala to open its 2020-2021 season A riveder le stelle (Seeing the Stars Again). On 7 December, the video introducing the evening will feature the … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season

[VIDEO] Massenet’s La Cigale with Carla Fracci and Paul Chalmer

29 April 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Fracci Chalmer

It’s International Dance Day, and Gramilano’s uploaded a short compilation of clips from the first act of the little known ballet by Jules Massenet: La Cigale. The video was recorded in the Teatro … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Massenet’s La Cigale with Carla Fracci and Paul Chalmer

Mirella Freni dies at 84

9 February 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

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

Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure

24 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Rolando Panerai in 1975 in La bohème, photo by Erio Piccagliani

With Rolando Panerai we lose a star of opera that we will not see the like of again, and many of his performances have shaped the history of La Scala’s opera house. La Scala left these words today, … [Read more...] about Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure

Alberto Testa – Italian dancer, choreographer, teacher and writer – has died at 96

11 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Carla Fracci and Alberto Testa for the Positano Prize 2001, photo by Alessio Buccafusca

Alberto Testa was a walking encyclopedia of dance, always elegantly dressed with never a hair out of place, and was very much of another time recalling Frederick Ashton with his old-school ways. … [Read more...] about Alberto Testa – Italian dancer, choreographer, teacher and writer – has died at 96

Tenor Marcello Giordani has died at 56

5 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marcello Giordani

Tenor Marcello Giordani died this afternoon following a heart attack – he was 56 years old. He was at his home in Augusta in the Province of Syracuse when at about 3 pm, after lunch, he felt unwell, … [Read more...] about Tenor Marcello Giordani has died at 56

Italian actress Valentina Cortese dies at 96

10 July 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Valentina Cortese died this morning in her home in Milan – she was 96. The great Italian actress had been confined to a wheelchair for several years but was still receiving friends in her beautiful … [Read more...] about Italian actress Valentina Cortese dies at 96

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

9 April 2019 by Gramilano 3 Comments

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

On 21 June Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of La traviata opens at Verona’s gigantic arena. He’s 96. On Anna Magnani and Maria Callas Anna Magnani and Maria Callas were two goddesses but with … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli, at 96, on Anna Magnani and Maria Callas, his career, and old age

Aged 97, Franco Zeffirelli will stage a new production of Rigoletto

7 November 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

At 95, Franco Zeffirelli is returning to the opera house to direct a new production of Rigoletto. The opera will open in September 2020 at the Royal Opera House in Muscat when the Zeffirelli will be … [Read more...] about Aged 97, Franco Zeffirelli will stage a new production of Rigoletto

Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci

1 October 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

La sonnambula, Tosi e Callas, 1957 Foto Piccagliani

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 – … [Read more...] about Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci

George Gagnidze answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

5 June 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

George Gagnidze by Dario Acosta (2)

Q&A   in italiano When did you start singing? When I was 13 or 14 I started singing Georgian and Russian folk songs with my sister who was played the piano. Why did you start singing? My father … [Read more...] about George Gagnidze answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

15 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Portrait of Maria José Siri by Victor Santiago 2

Q&A   in italiano When did you start singing? I started as a young girl… for as long as I can remember. Why did you start singing? I started by accident. I was supposed to go to my saxophone … [Read more...] about Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

80 years of opera and ballet costumes from La Scala go on display

11 October 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

La traviata, design by Gabriella Pescucci for Violetta, 1990

The theatrical costume is a paradox: it hides, yet at the same time, communicates revealing aspects of a character; it is made to be seen from afar, yet the designers and costume makers care for the … [Read more...] about 80 years of opera and ballet costumes from La Scala go on display

Maria Callas in newly restored photos from the La Scala archive

13 September 2017 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Maria Callas at La Scala, recording Il trovatore in 1956

"Silence - Recording in Progress" reads the sign, as Maria Callas arrives at La Scala to record Il trovatore in 1956. More than any other theatre, Callas is linked with the great opera house in Milan. … [Read more...] about Maria Callas in newly restored photos from the La Scala archive

Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives

6 September 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Recital in 1983

Luciano Pavarotti died ten years ago today, on 6 September 2007. Teatro alla Scala continually welcomed the great tenor to its stage for almost three decades, from 1965 until 1992. At the Milanese … [Read more...] about Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives

Maria Callas was a tenor

4 August 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Verona Sera   Maria Callas

In a bizarre muddle-up by someone at the Verona Sera online news service, a headline stated that 2 August was the 70th Anniversary of ‘tenor’ Maria Callas’s debut at the Verona Arena. Part of a … [Read more...] about Maria Callas was a tenor

Marie Duplessis, at 23, inspired Dumas then Verdi; now 23-year-old Maria Mudryak sings La traviata

10 July 2017 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Duplessis Mudryak

La traviata, an opera that has moved audiences to tears since its premiere in Venice in 1853, was based on a true story of prostitution, obsession and love. Marie Duplessis was born in 1824 to a … [Read more...] about Marie Duplessis, at 23, inspired Dumas then Verdi; now 23-year-old Maria Mudryak sings La traviata

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

David Aladashvili answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Musicians’ Edition

23 February 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

'Rehearsinig Beethoven'

Q&A When did you start playing the piano? Well, I should have started earlier. Why did you start playing? Ballet didn’t work out :) Which pianist inspired you most when you were … [Read more...] about David Aladashvili answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Musicians’ Edition

Franco Zeffirelli is named one of 35 living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci

15 April 2016 by Gramilano 8 Comments

35 living descendants of Leonardo Da Vinci’s family have been identified. Although Da Vinci didn’t have any children, a project – started in 1973 – sort to create his family tree starting from the … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli is named one of 35 living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci

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NEWS

New York City Ballet 2023 Spring Season is announced

Principal Brandon Lawrence to leave Birmingham Royal Ballet to join Ballett Zürich

Two new opera recordings to be released by Warner Classics/Erato

Four new Principal dancers for New York City Ballet

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

Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

Pam Tanowitz’s Secret Things, her second world premiere for The Royal Ballet this season

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

Principal dancer Jared Angle to give final performance with NYCB

The Australian Ballet will tour to the Royal Opera House in August 2023

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GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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