Q&AWhen did you start singing? There’s not a time I don’t remember singing in some capacity.Why did you start singing? I have a need to perform and to share my love of music with others.Which singer inspired you most when you were young? Luciano Pavarotti.Which singer do you most admire? Bryn Terfel.What’s your favourite role? The Barber of Seville.What role … [Read more...] about Lucas Meachem answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
La Bohème
Soprano Frances Alda: arguing with Toscanini, a debut at La Scala, Chaliapin’s hairy chest, and Caruso at the Met
Frances Alda (1879 – 1952) was a New Zealand-born, Australian-raised operatic soprano. She was one of the world's most celebrated singers during the first three decades of the 20th century and was a frequent onstage partner with Enrico Caruso at the Metropolitan Opera.This account below, taken from her fascinating 1937 autobiography Men, Women, & Tenors, describes her … [Read more...] about Soprano Frances Alda: arguing with Toscanini, a debut at La Scala, Chaliapin’s hairy chest, and Caruso at the Met
Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italianoWhen did you start singing? I started as young girl… for as long as I can remember.Why did you start singing? I started by accident. I was supposed to go to my saxophone class, but I was given the wrong day and time of the lesson, and therefore I found myself attending a voice class.Which singers inspired you the most when you were … [Read more...] about Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
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 opera house he sang under the baton of Abbado, Prêtre, Kleiber, Patané, Gavazzeni, Karajan, Maazel and Muti. Pavarotti worked extensively with La Scala's current Musical … [Read more...] about Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives
Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
The studio recording - her first in six years - explores the generation of Italian composers that followed Verdi, including three duets with tenor Joseph Calleja Eternamente - The Verismo Album, Angela Gheorghiu's first studio recording in six years, will be released on 20 October 2017, and will feature performances of opera and song by Italian composers of the generation that … [Read more...] about Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
The great basso buffo, Enzo Dara, dies at 78
Enzo Dara, who would have been 79 in October, has died in Mantua, his home town.The exemplary Italian basso buffo died at 6pm yesterday afternoon in the town where he was born on 13 October 1938.He was known for his great stage personality, his mastery of comic acting and timing, and extraordinary dexterity in his coloratura, throwing off each run which nonchalance, yet … [Read more...] about The great basso buffo, Enzo Dara, dies at 78
Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Robert Carsen’s spectacular production for La Scala of Don Giovanni created for the opening of the opera season in 2011, started a ten-performance run last night, which ends on 6 June.The Financial Times review opened with, No coup de théâtre ever matched Mozart’s opening chords as stunningly as this. This is a welcome return.Daniel Barenboim saw over a cast that … [Read more...] about Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Toscanini was born 150 years ago today… a quick summing up of a man and his career
Arturo Toscanini is the epitome of what a conductor should be according to the mass imagination. Like Caruso and Callas, his fame went beyond the concert halls, past the record-buyers and radio listeners, and reached into the minds of those who had never heard him perform. His sometimes-fiery temperament and energetic conducting style supported the popular image of the … [Read more...] about Toscanini was born 150 years ago today… a quick summing up of a man and his career
Riccardo Muti snubs the Rome Opera Orchestra at Salzburg
So Riccardo Muti will be off to Salzburg next year to conduct Ernani but, unsurprisingly, he will not be in front of the Rome Opera Orchestra, as previously announced, but his Cherubini Youth Orchestra. After Muti's recent walkout in protest at the latest series of budget problems at the Rome Opera House, the Maestro may not have wanted to see the faces of those players for a … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti snubs the Rome Opera Orchestra at Salzburg
The funeral of Magda Olivero – 11 September 2014
Magda Olivero's funeral was a life affirming mix of emotions. She was a practising Catholic, and three different priests, who had been close to her for many years, spoke about this very special woman.A Czechoslovakian had known Olivero from the 1960s when he took over the church in Solda. This was where she had a holiday home with her husband, at 2,000-meters, in the … [Read more...] about The funeral of Magda Olivero – 11 September 2014