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Frederick Ashton

[Interview] The authentic and passionate Laura Morera – a career without limits

29 April 2023 by Paul Arrowsmith 3 Comments

Laura Morera in Song of the Earth. Photo by Tristram Kenton, ROH, 2015

After 27 years with The Royal Ballet, Laura Morera's final performance at the Royal Opera House is on 17 June in Kenneth MacMillan’s Anastasia Act III. She dances on the company’s visit to … [Read more...] about [Interview] The authentic and passionate Laura Morera – a career without limits

[Review] The Royal Ballet’s Cinderella – not quite top drawer?

26 April 2023 by Paul Arrowsmith 6 Comments

Matthew Ball and Laura Morera in Cinderella The Royal Ballet photo by Andrej Uspenski

Paul Arrowsmith sees two debut casts in The Royal Ballet's new production of Cinderella TitleCinderellaCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueThe Royal Opera House, LondonDate22 April 2023, matinee and … [Read more...] about [Review] The Royal Ballet’s Cinderella – not quite top drawer?

[Review] The Royal Ballet’s new Cinderella – a fresh look for the 21st century

30 March 2023 by Jonathan Gray Leave a Comment

Yasmine Naghdi (Cinderella), Matthew Ball (Prince), 2023 ROH Photo Tristram Kenton

Jonathan Gray sees The Royal Ballet's new production of Ashton's Cinderella TitleCinderellaCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueRoyal Opera House, Covent GardenDate29 March 2023ReviewerJonathan Gray Not … [Read more...] about [Review] The Royal Ballet’s new Cinderella – a fresh look for the 21st century

­­­­[Interview] Designer Tom Pye on death threats, Cinderella – and cowboys

19 March 2023 by Paul Arrowsmith Leave a Comment

Tom Pye with the Cinderella Palace set at the Royal Opera House Production Workshop in Thurrock, January 2023. Photo by Andrej Uspenski

Guest author Paul Arrowsmith talks to Tom Pye, the designer of The Royal Ballet’s new production of Cinderella. Tom Pye has reimagined anew Frederick Ashton’s 75-year-old ballet Cinderella, for The … [Read more...] about ­­­­[Interview] Designer Tom Pye on death threats, Cinderella – and cowboys

Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

9 February 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Celebrating Laura Morera's 25 years with The Royal Ballet 2021 ROH. Photo by Asya Verzhbinsky

Royal Ballet Principal dancer Laura Morera will retire at the end of the current season after a career spanning more than 27 years. Her final performance on the Royal Opera House stage will be on … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

[Review] Awakening the Beauty. Two Royal Ballet Auroras: Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Mayara Magri

27 January 2023 by Jonathan Gray 3 Comments

Mayara Magri in The Sleeping Beauty, photo by Andrej Uspenski-03

Guest author Jonathan Gray sees two Sleeping Beauty casts at The Royal Opera House, London TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueThe Royal Opera House, LondonDate17 and 19 January … [Read more...] about [Review] Awakening the Beauty. Two Royal Ballet Auroras: Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Mayara Magri

The Dancing Times on when a dance critic is a critic no longer

8 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Royal Opera House auditorium c 2016 ROH. Photograph by Sim Canetty Clarke

The following is a delightful extract from the ‘comment’ section of The Dancing Times from April 1960 on an incident at the premiere of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal Gardée on 28 January 1960 at The … [Read more...] about The Dancing Times on when a dance critic is a critic no longer

The lonely father – Jonathan Gray reviews a new biography of the choreographer John Cranko

3 January 2023 by Jonathan Gray Leave a Comment

Cranko & Haydee in rehearsal ph. Andreas Heumann crop

I’ve always been interested in how some theatrical works survive the years, and some do not. Giacomo Meyerbeer, for example, was probably the most famous opera composer of the middle years of the 19th … [Read more...] about The lonely father – Jonathan Gray reviews a new biography of the choreographer John Cranko

Dame Beryl Grey: an obituary by Mary Clarke

12 December 2022 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Beryl Grey as the Lilac Fairy as photographed by Gordon Anthony for the 1946-1947 season brochure of Sadler's Wells Ballet at The Royal Opera House

Beryl Grey, who has died at the age of 95, was a ballerina, director, administrator, and patron of many dance organisations, who had a distinguished international career but was quintessentially a … [Read more...] about Dame Beryl Grey: an obituary by Mary Clarke

[Review] The Snowman – music and dance for all the family

21 November 2022 by Matthew Paluch Leave a Comment

The Snowman (credit Herbie Knott)

Guest author Matthew Paluch sees the 25th London Season of The Snowman in London TitleThe SnowmanCompanyBirmingham RepVenueThe Peacock Theatre, LondonDate20 November 2022ReviewerMatthew Paluch The … [Read more...] about [Review] The Snowman – music and dance for all the family

[Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future

17 November 2022 by Matthew Paluch 7 Comments

Marcelino Sambé and Matthew Ball in For Four 2022 ROH, photographed by Andrej Uspenski

How should the Royal Opera House celebrate 60 years of The Friends of Covent Garden? Krumping? Balanchine? Don't stress, you don't have to choose, we're getting both in the buffet that is The Royal … [Read more...] about [Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future

A Diamond Celebration in cinema: The Royal Ballet Celebrates 60 Years

7 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Artists of The Royal Ballet in Diamonds, photo by Bill Cooper, ROH 2013

The Royal Ballet presents A Diamond Celebration, a special programme to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Friends of Covent Garden. It will be broadcast live to cinemas around the world on … [Read more...] about A Diamond Celebration in cinema: The Royal Ballet Celebrates 60 Years

[Review] Men in Motion: the male dance spectacular still delivers, ten years on

7 November 2022 by Matthew Paluch Leave a Comment

Edward Watson in A Sheila Dance by Arthur Pita - Men in Motion, photo by Elliott Franks 03

Guest author Matthew Paluch sees the 10th-anniversary performance of Men in Motion TitleMen in MotionCompanyIvan Putrov's Men in MotionVenueThe London ColiseumDate6 November 2022ReviewerMatthew … [Read more...] about [Review] Men in Motion: the male dance spectacular still delivers, ten years on

[Review] New York City Ballet’s strange bedfellows: Episodes and Vienna Waltzes

11 October 2022 by Jonathan Gray 2 Comments

Megan Fairchild and Anthony Huxley in George Balanchines Vienna Waltzes photo by Paul Kolnik

Guest author Jonathan Gray sees New York City Ballet’s Episodes and Vienna Waltzes in New York. TitleAll Balanchine II – Episodes / Vienna WaltzesCompanyNew York City BalletVenueDavid H Koch … [Read more...] about [Review] New York City Ballet’s strange bedfellows: Episodes and Vienna Waltzes

The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling in 1978, and now live in cinemas

28 September 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Natalia Osipova as Mary Vetsera and Ryoichi Hirano as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling c 2018 ROH. Photograph by Helen Maybanks 1

The Royal Ballet opens its 2022-2023 cinema season with Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling, marking 30 years since the choreographer’s death in 1992. It will be broadcast on opening night, Wednesday 5 … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling in 1978, and now live in cinemas

Athelhampton House Gala: Stars of The Royal Ballet dance in charity gala this weekend

8 September 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Akane Takada and Ryoichi Hirano in Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour

The Athelhampton House Gala in Dorset has become an annual happening after the Royal Ballet’s Meaghan Grace Hinkis created the event after the first lockdown in 2020. Hinkis, who has been a first … [Read more...] about Athelhampton House Gala: Stars of The Royal Ballet dance in charity gala this weekend

Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023

23 July 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Bolero - choreography by Pastor Polski, Balet Narodowy, photo Ewa Krasucka 2

The new ballet season of the Teatro dell'Opera in Roma has been announced by the company's director, Eleonora Abbagnato. Don Quixote by Laurent Hilaire Rome Opera Ballet opens its season with … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023

UK’s top dance schools Unite for Ukraine

20 April 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Unite for Ukraine

Six of the UK’s top dance schools will unite in support of young people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine with a special gala performance, Unite for Ukraine at … [Read more...] about UK’s top dance schools Unite for Ukraine

Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci

13 April 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

GALA FRACCI - Giselle - photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

How to celebrate a great dancer on stage? How to evoke memories of their artistry without creating a parody of their talent? Certainly, with Carla Fracci and the American Ballet Theatre video of … [Read more...] about Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci

Royal Opera House: new ballet and opera streams

20 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Zenaida Yanowsky as Marguerite and Roberto Bolle as Armand in Marguerite and Armand. © ROH, 2017. Photographed by Tristram Kenton.

Wayne McGregor’s The Dante Project is available from the Royal Opera House’s streaming service from Monday 20 December at 19.30 GMT (20.30 CET). The Guardian said: For his new ballet, Wayne … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House: new ballet and opera streams

[Photo album] First look at La Scala’s new Bayadère

19 December 2021 by Gramilano 6 Comments

34 - La bayadère - Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko and corps de ballet, photo by Brescia and Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

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

The Royal Opera House: opera, ballet, cinema in 2022

16 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward in Christopher Wheeldon's Like Water For Chocolate - The Royal Ballet 2021 ROH, photo by Rick Guest crop

In January 2022, The Royal Opera Company will celebrate its 75th anniversary. On 14 January 1947, the 'Covent Garden Opera Company' (its name was changed to The Royal Opera in 1968) performed Carmen. … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera House: opera, ballet, cinema in 2022

Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening

19 November 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Costume design by Luisa Spinatelli (1)

La Bayadère, one of the key ballets in the classical repertoire, premiered in St Petersburg in 1877. Marius Petipa created a perfect harmony between mass scenes and protagonists, and it was the … [Read more...] about Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening

Royal Ballet stars for the Athelhampton Ballet Charity Gala 2021

23 August 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Anna Rose O'Sullivan in The Dying Swan, photo by Ian Rice

Last August, Royal Ballet First Soloist Meaghan Grace Hinkis was in her living room doing a Zoom ballet class when she realised it had been nearly six months since she had set foot on stage. That … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet stars for the Athelhampton Ballet Charity Gala 2021

[Photo Album] The Royal Ballet’s “Beauty Mixed Programme”

25 June 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mariko Sasaki and Lukas Bjørneboe Brændsrød in Anemoi, The Royal Ballet ©2021 ROH. Photograph by Alice Pennefather 2

Tomorrow, The Royal Ballet unveils a new mixed bill, the Beauty Mixed Programme. It reflects a phrase said by the company's founder Dame Ninette de Valois: Respect the past, herald the future but … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] The Royal Ballet’s “Beauty Mixed Programme”

Royal Ballet First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell heads for Stanford University

3 June 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Beatriz Stix-Brunell in Emeralds, photo by Andrej Uspenski ROH

The Royal Ballet has announced that First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell is to leave the Company after 11 years. In a move that was deferred due to the global pandemic, she leaves at the … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet First Soloist Beatriz Stix-Brunell heads for Stanford University

The Royal Opera House 2021-2022 ballet and dance season

2 June 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Sarah Lamb as Odette and Ryoichi Hirano as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, The Royal Ballet © 2018 ROH. Photograph by Bill Cooper

The Royal Opera House has announced details of its 2021-22 Season, the first full Season since 2019. Opening on Monday 13 September, the Season includes five world premieres from The Royal … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera House 2021-2022 ballet and dance season

Violetta Elvin, Royal Ballet prima ballerina, dies at 97

1 June 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Violetta Elvin in 1953

The great Russian dancer, Violetta Elvin, dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet Company and prima ballerina of The Royal Ballet, died on 27 May at the age of 97. Elvin had lived in Vico Equense in the … [Read more...] about Violetta Elvin, Royal Ballet prima ballerina, dies at 97

Paris Opera’s ballet and opera season for 2021-2022

18 May 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Faust - photo by Monika Rittershaus, OnP-02

The Paris Opéra has announced its 2021-2022 season with 23 operas, 12 ballets of which 14 are new productions: 9 operas and 5 ballets. This adds up to 385 curtain-ups during the season. The … [Read more...] about Paris Opera’s ballet and opera season for 2021-2022

The Royal Ballet announces 2021-2022 season, the first since 2019

24 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Wayne McGregor in rehearsal for Obsidian Tear, The Royal Ballet © ROH 2016. Photograph by Andrej Uspenski

The Royal Ballet has announced early plans for its 2021-2022 season. Detailed information will be announced on 1 June. Also, the Live Cinema season and digital programming will be announced later this … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet announces 2021-2022 season, the first since 2019

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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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