Graham Spicer sees Cecilia Bartoli in concert with 'Si dolce è ‘l tormento – Canzoni d’amore', still weaving the Bartoli magic. TitleSi dolce è ‘l tormento – Canzoni d’amoreCompanyCecilia Bartoli … [Read more...] about Review: Cecilia Bartoli’s sweet, tormented Love Songs in Rimini
Herbert von Karajan
La Scala presents its Opera Season 2025-2026
The Opera Season 2025-2026 opens with a harsh, stark opera that “assaults the viewer, tightening them in a knot of violence and despair”. Written by Shostakovich in 1934 and inspired by Leskov’s … [Read more...] about La Scala presents its Opera Season 2025-2026
Review: Northern Ballet’s Three Short Ballets at The Royal Opera House
Graham Watts sees Three Short Ballets presented by Northern Ballet – an evening showcasing the growing strength of the Northern powerhouse for dance. TitleThree Short BalletsCompanyNorthern … [Read more...] about Review: Northern Ballet’s Three Short Ballets at The Royal Opera House
Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
There will be a new Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Luciano Pavarotti, who died in 2007 at 71. The laying ceremony will be on 24 August 2022 at 11.30 am (Los Angeles time) at 7065 Hollywood … [Read more...] about Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Luciana Novaro, Italian ballerina who danced with Massine and Lifar, dies at 98
Luciana Novaro, a hugely important figure in Italian ballet, died on 26 May at 98. Her passing was unfortunately overshadowed by the death several hours later of the ballerina Carla Fracci, her friend … [Read more...] about Luciana Novaro, Italian ballerina who danced with Massine and Lifar, dies at 98
Mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig has died at 93
The German opera singer Christa Ludwig, died on Saturday 24 April at the age of 93 in Klosterneuburg, Austria, where she lived. Blessed with infallible vocal means and musical intelligence, she was a … [Read more...] about Mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig has died at 93
Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season
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
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
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
A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964
More than a gift to their own coffers, Warner Classics in releasing Maria Callas Live is giving fans of La Divina and lovers of opera a meticulously restored collection of some of her finest … [Read more...] about A first listen to the new Maria Callas Live: Remastered Live Recordings 1949-1964
Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives
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
La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland
The previously announced ballet to be performed at California’s Segerstrom Center by La Scala’s Ballet Company was Mauro Bigonzetti’s Cinderella, a ballet created for the opening of La Scala’s ballet … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland
Leontyne Price is 90 – best wishes and photographic memories from La Scala
On this day, 10 February 1927, Leontyne Price was born in Laurel, Mississipi. To celebrate her 90th birthday, La Scala joins companies, colleagues and fans the world over in wishing her a happy … [Read more...] about Leontyne Price is 90 – best wishes and photographic memories from La Scala
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings
The 100th birthday of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf falls on 9 December 2015. She died in 2006, but her recordings are a timeless treasure of the Warner Classics catalogue, like those of her contemporary and … [Read more...] about Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings
Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video
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
Daniel Barenboim on ‘his’ Fidelio at La Scala
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
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
Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84
Renato Cioni, the great Tuscan tenor, died today in his home town of Portoferraio, on the island of Elba, where he was born almost 85 years ago. His career took off in the mid 1950s when he sang in … [Read more...] about Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84
Opera star Regina Resnik dies at 90
Regina Resnik, who was born as Resnick (she lost the 'c' early on) in the Bronx in 1922, has died in New York after a stroke, at 90. Resnick had a remarkable career change in her thirties went her … [Read more...] about Opera star Regina Resnik dies at 90
Unseen photos: an emotional Maria Callas with Herbert von Karajan at La Scala in the ’50s
An (almost) unseen photo from the archives at Teatro alla Scala which shows an emotional Maria Callas moved to tears by the incredible success of her Lucia di Lammermoor as the curtain closes … [Read more...] about Unseen photos: an emotional Maria Callas with Herbert von Karajan at La Scala in the ’50s
Cecilia Bartoli is awarded the 2012 Herbert von Karajan Music Prize
The Italian opera singer and director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, Cecilia Bartoli, has won this year's Herbert von Karajan Music Prize, which comes with a sum of €50,000. The Chairman of the … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli is awarded the 2012 Herbert von Karajan Music Prize
Pianist Alexis Weissenberg dies at 82
Bulgarian pianist Alexis Weissenberg has died aged 82. Born into a Jewish family in Sofia, Weissenberg began piano lessons at the age of three with his mother, giving his first public performance … [Read more...] about Pianist Alexis Weissenberg dies at 82
Kiri Te Kanawa on divas, puppies & Luther Vandross – but avoids commenting on Katherine Jenkins
Ahead of her much-anticipated Belfast Festival appearance, Matthew McCreary of the Belfast Telegraph talks to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. In what is a rather mundane interview (the fault of the Dame, not … [Read more...] about Kiri Te Kanawa on divas, puppies & Luther Vandross – but avoids commenting on Katherine Jenkins
Vienna Opera and La Scala exchange goes ahead tomorrow
A much-anticipated exchange between the Vienna Opera and Milan's Teatro alla Scala will go ahead despite earlier fears it might be cancelled because of a strike. Two unions at the Milan opera house … [Read more...] about Vienna Opera and La Scala exchange goes ahead tomorrow