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 house in Piazza Sant'Erasmo.Her first important film role was in the 1948 Italian film Les Misérables with the young Marcello Mastroianni (she played … [Read more...] about Italian actress Valentina Cortese dies at 96
Giorgio Strehler
Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci
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 – some celebrated, some largely forgotten. These little gems are precious in the content but lacking in their scale. However, luckily, the Friends of La Scala sometimes bring out … [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
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 production of La traviata at La Scala under the baton of Carlo Maria Giulini.Mandelli was a constant presence in the theatre travelling on the metro from her home in Verdi'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
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, aged 88, he has taken off his chequered costume and black leather commedia dell’arte mask for the last time.Goldoni’s play is called simply Servitore di due padroni (Servant to … [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
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 tiniest details, even if invisible. Each costume contains thousands of secrets, from colour combining to decoration, from the choice of a fabric to the technique to create a form. … [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
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 headquarters, a short walk from La Scala, to celebrate one of Italy’s most important theatre designers.Luisa Spinatelli is one of a tight-knit core of Milanese artists, by birth or … [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
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 the most important Milanese artists invite their friends to celebrate the great sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro (90 next month) and the actor Ferruccio Soleri, who in his 87th year is … [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
Ballet Season 2016-2017Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017The new season opens with another step along the path of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini Project, Madama Butterfly, which will be directed by Alvis Hermanis (Die Soldaten and I due Foscari at La Scala) with Maria José Siri as Butterfly and Bryan Hymel as Pinkerton. It will use the original version of the opera … [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”
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 normal. One is condemned after 70 to see many friends die, so when one reaches 90… well, I hope that I’ll arrive at 90; there are still a couple of days to go! She is a strikingly … [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
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 Giorgio Strehler. Creating her own company came about after the great Italian designer Luciano Damiani asked her to make all the costumes for an opera he was designing. Being that … [Read more...] about Eufemia Brancato, queen of the tutu, dies at 95