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[Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala

10 October 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

22 - Olga Smirnova Jacopo Tissi e il Corpo di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala 2023, photo by Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala 2023 (3)

A Swan Lake with two of the Bolshoi Ballet Company principals who left the company after Russia invaded Ukraine – Olga Smirnova, one of Russia’s brightest stars, and the Italian Jacopo Tissi who was … [Read more...] about [Review and Photo Album] Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake at La Scala

Prison cancels opera about violent gangster and gay composer Ivor Novello

4 September 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

1944 - Home Fires

An opera about gangster ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser and the composer Ivor Novello, both jailed in Wormwood Scrubs prison in 1944, was due to be staged at the prison tomorrow but has been cancelled with four … [Read more...] about Prison cancels opera about violent gangster and gay composer Ivor Novello

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 7 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 1 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

Ballet schools worldwide commit to a collective future with aDvANCE conference

A new 17-floor tower opens behind La Scala with rehearsal rooms and offices

Sarah Jessica Parker produces Front Row, a documentary following the United Ukrainian Ballet

NutcrackAR – Birmingham Royal Ballet’s augmented reality countdown to Nutcracker time

#WorldBalletDay celebrates 10th anniversary

Empire State Building to be lit in honour of New York City Ballet’s 75th Anniversary

Royal Academy of Dance acquires Dancing Times photographic archive

[Review] Eun-Me Ahn’s ‘Dragons – “Like a large plate of tasteless food”

A final bow for Russell Janzen: From Danseur Noble to creating Contemporary Ballet

World premiere of film of Kenneth MacMillan’s Sea of Troubles

FEATURED POSTS

franco fagioli © thibault stipal, 2014

Franco Fagioli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Coppélia with Vadim Muntagirov and Marianela Nunez, photo by Bill Cooper ROH

Interview: The Royal Ballet’s Ballet Master, Christopher Carr, on mounting Coppélia, the company’s dancers and technique

Yasmine Naghdi in rehearsal for Tarantella, The Royal Ballet © 2017 ROH. Photograph by Bill Cooper

[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi: a time to reflect

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António Casalinho – Introducing the 17-year-old Portuguese Dancer

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In conversation with Marianela Nuñez

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Dance injuries from the ballet dancer’s point of view: top stars share their experiences

Luca Pisaroni as Leporello in Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne   photo by Bill Cooper

In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut

Thomas Hampson by Jiyang Chen

Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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

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’

GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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