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Giorgio Strehler

Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91

2 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ezio Frigerio with his set for Otello, 7 dicembre 2001, photo by Andrea Tamoni

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

Dance, concerts and opera from La Scala – May-July 2021

16 May 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Verdi Suite - Nicola Del Freo, Virna Toppi, Claudio Coviello, Martina Arduino, Marco Agostino, photo Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala 2020

Programming - with an audience present in the auditorium - continues from 17 May with a concert by Daniel Harding. The calendar also includes a recital by Marianne Crebassa on 6 June, an evening of … [Read more...] about Dance, concerts and opera from La Scala – May-July 2021

Italian singer Milva has died at 81 – a career from pop to Berio

24 April 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

1989 concert with Zoltan Peskó, photo by Lelli e Masotti © Teatro alla Scala-crop

Yesterday, Italy lost one of its greatest singers of popular music, Milva, a singer who interpreted Brecht (working with Giorgio Strehler at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro), collaborated many times with Astor … [Read more...] about Italian singer Milva has died at 81 – a career from pop to Berio

Riccardo Chailly and Irina Brook bring Brecht and Weill back to La Scala

15 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lindsey Kate, photo by Rosetta Greek

On March 18 at 8 pm CET, Riccardo Chailly conducts Die sieben Tosdsünden ("The Seven Deadly Sins") and Mahagonny Songspiel in a live-streamed performance from La Scala. The Kurt Weill double bill … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly and Irina Brook bring Brecht and Weill back to La Scala

Bryn Terfel and his first UK opera appearance after lockdown

22 February 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Bryn Terfel in Grange Park Opera's Fiddler on the Roof

After lockdown, Bryn Terfel’s first UK opera appearance will be as Falstaff at Grange Park Opera in June. Grange Park Opera was founded in 1998 by Wasfi Kani and has since staged more than 75 … [Read more...] about Bryn Terfel and his first UK opera appearance after lockdown

Dominique Meyer, La Scala’s CEO, on going green and new digitalisation projects

23 January 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Così fan tutte, photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala 2021

Dominique Meyer became La Scala’s CEO on 1 March 2020, just a couple of days before the first closure of Italian theatres. While the theatre has been closed, he’s been preparing not only for the … [Read more...] about Dominique Meyer, La Scala’s CEO, on going green and new digitalisation projects

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

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

Jonas Kaufmann: A Picture Journey – a glorious new book celebrates the tenor’s 50th birthday in photos

3 December 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Werther ONP 2010 Decca © Christine Cerletti, aus Jonas Kaufmann, Eine Bilderreise, VfmK, ISBN 9783903269750

Jonas Kaufmann was 50 on 10 July this year. To celebrate, the esteemed Vienna-based publishing house Verlag für moderne Kunst has produced – in collaboration with Kaufmann – a glorious picture book … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann: A Picture Journey – a glorious new book celebrates the tenor’s 50th birthday in photos

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

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

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

Luisa Mandelli, Maria Callas’ Annina at La Scala, has died at 95

30 August 2018 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Luisa-Mandelli-in-La-figlia-di-Jorio,-1955

Luisa Mandelli, Maria Callas' Annina at La Scala, died last night, just short of her 96th birthday. Daniel Barenboim called her the 'eternal Annina' having sung alongside Callas in Luchino Visconti's … [Read more...] about Luisa Mandelli, Maria Callas’ Annina at La Scala, has died at 95

Ferruccio Soleri – After 60 years and 2,283 performances, Italy’s Arlecchino bows out

9 June 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ferruccio Soleri, the last Arlecchino, May 2018   05

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

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

Luisa Spinatelli – celebrating the life of the Milanese opera and ballet designer

26 June 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

from left, Frédéric Olivieri, Ferruccio Soleri, Carlo Orlandi, Luisa Spinatelli and Luciana Savignano

Luisa Spinatelli… taking tasteful to a higher dimension The Amici della Scala (Friends of La Scala), run by the indefatigable Anna Crespi, gathered together at the association’s spectacular … [Read more...] about Luisa Spinatelli – celebrating the life of the Milanese opera and ballet designer

Amici della Scala: Fracci, Lazzarini, Pomodoro, Soleri, Vanoni, Savignano… artists who have made Milan great

28 May 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The 'Amici della Scala' sure knows how to throw a party! The indefatigable Anna Crespi, who has been guiding the Friends of La Scala association since its birth in 1978, had the idea to get some of … [Read more...] about Amici della Scala: Fracci, Lazzarini, Pomodoro, Soleri, Vanoni, Savignano… artists who have made Milan great

La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts

18 May 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Ballet Season 2016-2017 Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 The new season opens with another step along the path of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini Project, Madama Butterfly, which will be … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts

Interview with Virginia Zeani at 90 “My brain believes that I’m eternally young”

20 October 2015 by Gramilano 10 Comments

Virginia Zeani crop

Inside I feel 50, outside I feel 70, and my brain believes that I’m eternally young. But on 21 October the great soprano Virginia Zeani will be 90. Naturally, many of my friends are dead. It’s … [Read more...] about Interview with Virginia Zeani at 90 “My brain believes that I’m eternally young”

Eufemia Brancato, queen of the tutu, dies at 95

5 July 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Eufemia Brancato died this morning three weeks before her 96th birthday. She was the head of Brancato Costumiers in Milan which she founded in 1961 after five years working at the Piccolo Teatro with … [Read more...] about Eufemia Brancato, queen of the tutu, dies at 95

Marco Berti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

9 June 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A   in italiano When did you start singing? More or less I’ve always sung. First at my local church, then one day my cousin, who sung Ave Marie for weddings, gave me the chance to try and I … [Read more...] about Marco Berti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video

27 February 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

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

Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

22 February 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Italian director Luca Ronconi died yesterday evening in the Policlinico in Milan after a short illness. His health had been poor over the last years, he was on dialysis, and was complicated by … [Read more...] about Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

Daniel Barenboim on ‘his’ Fidelio at La Scala

3 December 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The opening of La Scala's season on 7 December each year is the most anticipated and often contested event in the international opera calendar. Daniel Barenboim opens the 2014-2015 Opera and Ballet … [Read more...] about Daniel Barenboim on ‘his’ Fidelio at La Scala

Fiorenza Cossotto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

1 August 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Q&A  in italiano When did you start singing? When I was a girl. Why did you start singing? For my own personal enjoyment. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? No one. Which … [Read more...] about Fiorenza Cossotto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Jonas Kaufmann champions La Scala’s new boss and the great Italian director Giorgio Strehler

23 April 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jonas Kaufmann says that La Scala and Santa Cecilia are the only two important music centres left in Italy, Too many theatres have closed in the last few years; a real shame. Which theatres he's … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann champions La Scala’s new boss and the great Italian director Giorgio Strehler

Milan celebrates one of its most-loved actresses as she turns 80

2 April 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Giulia Lazzarini, one of Giorgio Strehler's favourite actress, and for decades a constant presence on the stage of Milan's famed Piccolo Teatro, is 80 and, rightly, it was at the Piccolo Teatro that … [Read more...] about Milan celebrates one of its most-loved actresses as she turns 80

Ambrogio Maestri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

9 February 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ambrogio Maestri crop

 versione in italiano Q&A When did you start singing? When I was 9. Why did you start singing? I was studying piano, and the transition was natural. Which singer inspired you most when you … [Read more...] about Ambrogio Maestri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Ambrogio Maestri risponde al Gramilano Questionario… Italian Edition

 English version Q&A Quando hai iniz­i­ato a can­tare? A 9 anni. Per­ché hai iniz­i­ato a can­tare? Studiando pianoforte, il passaggio è stato naturale. Quale can­t­ante ti ha più … [Read more...] about Ambrogio Maestri risponde al Gramilano Questionario… Italian Edition

Valentina Cortese becomes a Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres

27 November 2013 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Italian actress Valentina Cortese was awarded France's highest honour in recognition of her contribution to the arts, the Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, during a ceremony on … [Read more...] about Valentina Cortese becomes a Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres

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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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