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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

[Review] German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark: sizzling passion and pyrotechnic lifts

12 October 2022 by Matthew Paluch Leave a Comment

Tango After Dark credit Leo Mason 4

Guest author Matthew Paluch sees German Cornejo's Tango After Dark in London If anyone mentions Astor Piazzolla I'm there in a flash. This has to do partly with wonderful argot memories of … [Read more...] about [Review] German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark: sizzling passion and pyrotechnic lifts

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake: mutations, violins and homosexuality

5 June 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Swan Lake, Mariinsky Theatre, 1895 crop

As his swan song on leaving his position as Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski chose for the orchestra to play the entire score of Swan Lake. An odd choice? … [Read more...] about Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake: mutations, violins and homosexuality

The world’s ballet Étoiles army arrives in Rome, conquering with its art

7 January 2019 by Gramilano 3 Comments

La Bayadère by Alexei Ratmansky withPolina Semionova, photo by Yan Revazov, Staatsballett Berlin

It’s become an annual event in Rome – after the Christmas holidays and the last bite of panettone, comes the Daniele Cipriani Entertainment dance gala with some of the best and biggest names in ballet … [Read more...] about The world’s ballet Étoiles army arrives in Rome, conquering with its art

In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?

7 July 2013 by Gramilano 21 Comments

When Roberto Bolle popped out and in of the closet four years ago internet forums and gossip rags foamed at the mouth. Openly gay ballet dancers, like openly gay actors and singers, are few and far … [Read more...] about In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?

Cruelty at the Bolshoi: acid attacks and smear campaigns. Tsiskaridze responds.

20 January 2013 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Sergei Filin had been receiving intimidating phone calls for a while, and had had his tyres punctured and his email hacked, but the acid attack that has shocked the dance world is beyond all … [Read more...] about Cruelty at the Bolshoi: acid attacks and smear campaigns. Tsiskaridze responds.

The Man I Love – was George Gershwin gay?

2 November 2012 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Michael Feinstein’s book on the Gershwins called, sensibly, “The Gershwins and Me” (Simon & Schuster) was published in October. While he was still working in piano bars, Feinstein got to know Ira … [Read more...] about The Man I Love – was George Gershwin gay?

Maurice Sendak: Being gay in the old days was hard, being gay later was weird.

11 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Maurice Sendak, creator of Where the Wild Things Are, which has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide, is 83 and walks with a stick (“It’s for hitting people”). Sendak has not published a book … [Read more...] about Maurice Sendak: Being gay in the old days was hard, being gay later was weird.

Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”

6 July 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lovers of Hollinghurst's writing have been waiting a long time for the end of June 2011 and the publication of his new novel. In fact, the wait has been seven years, but now we know that it was worth … [Read more...] about Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”

Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality

29 April 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Guardian went to meet Patrice Chéreau who is in London to rehearse the first play he has ever directed in the UK. It's a coup for the Young Vic. The play he is rehearsing is I Am The Wind, a … [Read more...] about Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality

Pianists Stephen Hough and Liberace and why perfume is so gay

4 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Stephen Hough, one of Britain's greatest pianists, is also a great blogger and twitterer. As a lover of not just music but , to quote from his blog profile, theology, art, hats and puddings too, his … [Read more...] about Pianists Stephen Hough and Liberace and why perfume is so gay

Elizabeth Taylor: selection from a life… what today’s press has been saying, her best films and her changing look

23 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Today's press A London-born beauty who never lost her clipped, clean way of speaking, Ms. Taylor possessed vivid features known to three generations of filmgoers: Raven hair, dark eyebrows, ivory … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Taylor: selection from a life… what today’s press has been saying, her best films and her changing look

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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

FEATURED POSTS

Jakub Józef Orliński

In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński

franco fagioli © thibault stipal, 2014

Franco Fagioli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

English National Ballet in Derek Deane's Swan Lake, photo by ASH, Arnaud Stephenson, 2013

Derek Deane on 20 years of his Swan Lake ‘in the round’

The Tricks of the Trocks: powder, ice and pointe shoes

Francesco Gabriele Frola. Photo By Karolina Kuras, 2016 01

Meet Francesco Gabriele Frola — National Ballet of Canada and English National Ballet’s new Principal Dancer

In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?

Nunez headshot cropped

In conversation with Marianela Nuñez

Vittorio Grigolo’s new women’s shoes and a song for Hillary Clinton

Steven McRae by Rick Guest crop

The Royal Ballet’s Steven McRae on injury: turning weakness into strength

Lawrence Brownlee, © Shervin Lainez

Interview with tenor Lawrence Brownlee on being a black man in America: Cycles of My Being

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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