The Contemporary Evening was a triumph, with seven works: a contemporary ‘classic’, some lesser-known pieces, and a new creation. La Scala is finding it difficult to attract audiences back to the … [Read more...] about La Scala’s enthralling Contemporary Evening is a triumph
Ivan Vasiliev
Review: Enthralling programme of 5 works by Hans van Manen and Roland Petit at La Scala
An unusual mixed bill at La Scala showcased the works of two choreographers: Hans van Manen and Roland Petit. Two of the van Manen pieces were new to the company, though his Adagio Hammerklavier, … [Read more...] about Review: Enthralling programme of 5 works by Hans van Manen and Roland Petit at La Scala
Photo album: Tamara Rojo and Ivan Vasiliev in Le Jeune Homme et La Mort as photographed by Dasa Wharton
"With his pantherine leaps and blazing-eyed, silent-movie acting style, Vasiliev is terrific as the young man. As he struts and frets to Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, costumed in possibly … [Read more...] about Photo album: Tamara Rojo and Ivan Vasiliev in Le Jeune Homme et La Mort as photographed by Dasa Wharton
Gregory Reinhart answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? As a child in Upstate New York, every Sunday I was taken to Mass. I loved hearing the songs in Latin, and hearing the choir. I wanted so badly to sing along, … [Read more...] about Gregory Reinhart answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Meeting Davide Dato, the Italian ballet star who’s finally hitting the headlines in his homeland
Salsa, merengue and mambo… that’s how I started dancing. So says Davide Dato, Principal Dancer at the Vienna State Ballet. Many classical dancers began in their living room imitating Michael … [Read more...] about Meeting Davide Dato, the Italian ballet star who’s finally hitting the headlines in his homeland
La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company embark on a month-long tour
La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company have flown out of Milan for a month on tour which will see them in Korea, China, Japan and Russia. Tomorrow night at the Lotte Hall in Seoul, … [Read more...] about La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company embark on a month-long tour
18-year-old Vincenzo di Primo on winning at Lausanne and studying at the Vienna Ballet Academy
18-year-old Vincenzo di Primo was one of the seven winners at the annual Prix de Lausanne, taking away the Albert Amon Foundation scholarship which will give him the opportunity to train for a year at … [Read more...] about 18-year-old Vincenzo di Primo on winning at Lausanne and studying at the Vienna Ballet Academy
My Big Fat Italian Ballet Gala
The Gala des Étoiles at La Scala made me feel as though I’d eaten all the icing on the cake: happy, but a little woozy. Don Q? Check! Corsaire? Check! Manon and Romeo and Juliet? Check! Spartacus? … [Read more...] about My Big Fat Italian Ballet Gala
Full programme of la Scala’s Gala des Étoiles – 30 and 31 October
Below is the full programme of Gala des Étoiles, at La Scala on 30 and 31 October. The Gala will be transmitted live by Italian television, Rai, on Rai5, and in cinemas internationally both live and … [Read more...] about Full programme of la Scala’s Gala des Étoiles – 30 and 31 October
Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
Milan is not like London or New York… there’s not a lot of dance going on. The resident company at La Scala will be performing six titles during the coming season. That’s S-I-X. And there will not be … [Read more...] about Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
Ardani Artists 25th Anniversary “If only all Galas could be like this”
Sergei and Gaiane Danilian, The Russian couple known by their company name, Ardani Artists, marked their 25th anniversary of dance management, production and promotion with a gala featuring some of … [Read more...] about Ardani Artists 25th Anniversary “If only all Galas could be like this”
Ivan Vasiliev turns choreographer for “Ballet No 1”
Tonight, Ivan Vasiliev makes a début in a new ballet. It is a special début, a double début, as it marks his first outing as a choreographer and, appropriately, it is entitled Ballet N°1. When you go … [Read more...] about Ivan Vasiliev turns choreographer for “Ballet No 1”
Ardani’s 25th Anniversary Gala with Osipova, Watson, Vasiliev, Gomes, Matvienko…
Ardani 25 Dance Gala is a must for ballet fans on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July at the London Coliseum. Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson, Ivan Vasiliev, Marcelo Gomes, Denis Matvienko, Joaquín De … [Read more...] about Ardani’s 25th Anniversary Gala with Osipova, Watson, Vasiliev, Gomes, Matvienko…
A magical Natalia Osipova with Claudio Coviello in Romeo and Juliet
Natalia Osipova took my breath away with her extraordinary portrayal of Juliet in Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet at Teatro della Scala. The whole company shone, the soloists were excellent, and … [Read more...] about A magical Natalia Osipova with Claudio Coviello in Romeo and Juliet
La Scala’s Don Q disaster – all four guest dancers pull out
Could it be that Rudolph Nureyev's Carabosse is getting her revenge as his production of Sleeping Beauty is being dropped next season to be replaced by a version by Alexei Ratmansky? … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Don Q disaster – all four guest dancers pull out
At La Scala: Tamara Rojo and Claudio Coviello in a winning Don Quixote
What an extraordinary dancer Tamara Rojo is. Here she was, fabulous at forty, able to toss off the fiendishly difficult - and long - role of Kitri in Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote. No balance is … [Read more...] about At La Scala: Tamara Rojo and Claudio Coviello in a winning Don Quixote
Tamara Rojo on Ivan Vasiliev: everyone makes their own choices
It's a shame, but I am not going to criticise him. Everyone makes their own health choices: in the past, I risked a lot by dancing with an appendicitis. Tamara Rojo was talking about her intended … [Read more...] about Tamara Rojo on Ivan Vasiliev: everyone makes their own choices
Ivan Vasiliev writes from his hospital bed
Ivan Vasiliev has been forced to pull out of the Don Quixote performances at La Scala with Tamara Rojo. The casting has already suffered some upsets as The Vasiliev-Osipova coupling was to share … [Read more...] about Ivan Vasiliev writes from his hospital bed
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui creates a semi-new piece for Osipova and Vasiliev
Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev summer ballet-fest, Solo for Two, has a slight alteration in the programme. The evening’s opening is now to be a new piece by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, drawing on two … [Read more...] about Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui creates a semi-new piece for Osipova and Vasiliev
Partner-swapping at La Scala: Osipova/Sarafanov, Rojo/Vasiliev – Zakharova/Matvienko out
Intriguing casting changes at La Scala. In September, Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote was to have have four guest artists: Svetlana Zakharova paired with Denis Matvienko and Natalia Osipova with Ivan … [Read more...] about Partner-swapping at La Scala: Osipova/Sarafanov, Rojo/Vasiliev – Zakharova/Matvienko out
Jack Devant, ballet photographer: freezing the beauty
There are thousands, millions, of dance photos scattered around the net, and most of the best come from just a handful of photographers. We know their copyright watermarks, we know their style, we … [Read more...] about Jack Devant, ballet photographer: freezing the beauty
Carla Fracci, Claudio Coviello and the Prix Benois 2014
For more than twenty years the Benois Prize has been recognising talent with the most starry juries imaginable. The first year it consisted of Yury Grigorovich as its president, with Galina Ulanova … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci, Claudio Coviello and the Prix Benois 2014
Osipova and Vasiliev to dance Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Mea Culpa
Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev, reunited for this summer’s programme Solo for Two at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Stanislavsky Musical Theater in Moscow and the London Coliseum, will open … [Read more...] about Osipova and Vasiliev to dance Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Mea Culpa
Osipova and Vasiliev re-united in London, Moscow & Orange County: Solo For Two
Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev are re-united in Solo For Two this summer at the London Coliseum. They will dance three diverse pieces including two world premières commissioned by the Segerstrom … [Read more...] about Osipova and Vasiliev re-united in London, Moscow & Orange County: Solo For Two
Stepping in for Vasiliev & Osipova: Vittoria Valerio’s turn
Natalia Osipova, down to dance with Ivan Vssiliev in Rubies at Teatro alla Scala, was indisposed for the dress rehearsal, the first night, and has now been replaced for the run by Vittoria … [Read more...] about Stepping in for Vasiliev & Osipova: Vittoria Valerio’s turn
The Kings of Dance have a Queen: Svetlana Lunkina
Kings of Dance will come to London with their newly crowned queen, Svetlana Lunkina. Roberto Bolle and Ivan Vasiliev will perform Roland Petit's Le Jeune Homme et la Mort, with ex-Bolshoi star … [Read more...] about The Kings of Dance have a Queen: Svetlana Lunkina
Roberto Bolle becomes a King of Dance for London début (with surprise Queen)
The Kings of the Dance gets its first Re Italiano, as Roberto Bolle joins the roster of some of ballet's most exciting male dancers, for the latest edition of the roadshow. The new tour will bring … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle becomes a King of Dance for London début (with surprise Queen)
New director of the Bolshoi Theatre: I do not plan a revolution
Anatoly Iksanov has retired as director of the Bolshoi Theatre. His contract finishes in 2014 but he has retired early, or been sacked, according to different Russian news agencies. His successor … [Read more...] about New director of the Bolshoi Theatre: I do not plan a revolution
Claudio Coviello spreads his wings in Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova
In a brave casting move, Makhar Vaziev, director of La Scala's ballet company, has given new-boy Claudio Coviello the opening night of Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova. 21-year-old Claudio … [Read more...] about Claudio Coviello spreads his wings in Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova
Hallberg débuts at La Scala, with Núñez, Zakharova, Osipova, Bolle and Vasiliev
Good news for dance at La Scala. Cutting down on the budget has meant axing three opera productions, but opera's loss is ballet's gain, for the 'cheaper' ballet performances have been bumped up from … [Read more...] about Hallberg débuts at La Scala, with Núñez, Zakharova, Osipova, Bolle and Vasiliev
