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La fille mal gardée

The Dancing Times on when a dance critic is a critic no longer

8 January 2023 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Royal Opera House auditorium c 2016 ROH. Photograph by Sim Canetty Clarke

The following is a delightful extract from the ‘comment’ section of The Dancing Times from April 1960 on an incident at the premiere of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal Gardée on 28 January 1960 at The … [Read more...] about The Dancing Times on when a dance critic is a critic no longer

[Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future

17 November 2022 by Matthew Paluch 7 Comments

Marcelino Sambé and Matthew Ball in For Four 2022 ROH, photographed by Andrej Uspenski

How should the Royal Opera House celebrate 60 years of The Friends of Covent Garden? Krumping? Balanchine? Don't stress, you don't have to choose, we're getting both in the buffet that is The Royal … [Read more...] about [Review] The Royal Ballet: A Diamond Celebration – the importance of the past, present, and future

Royal Opera House Stream goes live with 130 titles

4 October 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Vadim Muntagirov in rehearsal for Live from Covent Garden 20 June 2020 c 2020 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton

The Royal Opera House has launched a streaming service that offers 45 performances from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera’s archives. Together with these are also 85 behind-the-scenes features, … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House Stream goes live with 130 titles

Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023

23 July 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Bolero - choreography by Pastor Polski, Balet Narodowy, photo Ewa Krasucka 2

The new ballet season of the Teatro dell'Opera in Roma has been announced by the company's director, Eleonora Abbagnato. Don Quixote by Laurent Hilaire Rome Opera Ballet opens its season with … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet – Season 2022-2023

Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star

26 January 2022 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Anna Rose O'Sullivan after her début as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, photo by Marcelino Sambé

It’s full steam ahead for The Royal Ballet’s Anna Rose O’Sullivan. Last year she was promoted to the rank of principal dancer with the company, in January of this year she made her debut as the Sugar … [Read more...] about Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star

[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage

4 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Elite Syncopations. Sarah Lamb and Ryoichi Hirano. © ROH, 2018. Photographed by Tristram Kenton

The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, says about lockdown, I needed [the dancers] as much as they probably needed me. I think we have managed to keep the company spirit. Of course, we have … [Read more...] about [Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage

Bolshoi dancer, a descendant of the Tsar’s ballerina lover, to dance in Rome

16 January 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Eleonora Sevenard in Coppelia photo Mikhail Logvinov

Eleonora Sevenard, the young promising new Bolshoi soloist (she danced both Phrygia and Kitri at Covent Garden during the company's latest tour) will be dancing with her boyfriend, Bolshoi principal … [Read more...] about Bolshoi dancer, a descendant of the Tsar’s ballerina lover, to dance in Rome

Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci

1 October 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

La sonnambula, Tosi e Callas, 1957 Foto Piccagliani

Vittoria Crespi Morbio, the writer of an exceptional collection of books produced by the Amici della Scala, has written monographs on important artists who have collaborated with Teatro alla Scala – … [Read more...] about Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci

Dancing Times, August 2018 out now – including latest Danza in Italia column

29 July 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dancing Times August 2018 cut down

The latest Dancing Times magazine is now on sale. The August 2018 issue contains my latest Danza in Italia column with thoughts on the new Le Corsaire by Anna-Marie Holmes at La Scala, with company … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, August 2018 out now – including latest Danza in Italia column

Interview with The Royal Ballet’s hot couple: Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell

16 February 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Giselle with Alexander Campbell as Albrecht and Francesca Hayward as Giselle. © ROH, Helen Maybanks 2018 (3)

Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell are quickly becoming The Royal Ballet's ‘couple to see’. After recent successes dancing Clara and the Nutcracker, as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her … [Read more...] about Interview with The Royal Ballet’s hot couple: Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell

Prix de Lausanne Prize Winners 2018 and photos

3 February 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Hanna PARK, photo by Gregory Batardon

A large audience attended the Prix de Lausanne Finals today, both at the Théâtre de Beaulieu and online. 8 young dancers were awarded a scholarship allowing them to enter one of the 72 partner … [Read more...] about Prix de Lausanne Prize Winners 2018 and photos

Dame Merle Park on a ballerina’s need for rest and energy: I have six spoonfuls of sugar in my tea

16 August 2017 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Dame Merle Park with the Royal Ballet's Gary Avis

Back in the days when Merle Park was a CBE — she became Dame Merle in 1986 — she left this interview with a British women’s magazine. It makes interesting, and amusing, reading almost 40 years … [Read more...] about Dame Merle Park on a ballerina’s need for rest and energy: I have six spoonfuls of sugar in my tea

THE ROYAL BALLET SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre and cinema

7 April 2016 by Gramilano 5 Comments

All the details of the 2016-2017 Ballet Season at London's Royal Opera House: skip to section: ROYAL BALLET 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF THE ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON THE ROYAL OPERA SEASON … [Read more...] about THE ROYAL BALLET SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre and cinema

A deep vein of sincere sentiment in ‘L’elisir d’amore’ at La Scala

12 October 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Tullio Pericoli’s designs for L’Elisir d’amore, currently at La Scala in Milan, recall the Osbert Lancaster sets for The Royal Ballet’s La fille mal gardée. Both men worked as illustrators for … [Read more...] about A deep vein of sincere sentiment in ‘L’elisir d’amore’ at La Scala

Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae in La Fille mal gardée in cinema

10 April 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Royal Ballet's audiences never tire of La Fille mal gardée, and seemingly neither do the cinema audiences as the ballet will be transmitted live again. On Tuesday 5 May, the world will have the … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae in La Fille mal gardée in cinema

Casting for Royal Ballet triple bill in March and La fille mal gardée in April

9 December 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

THE FOUR TEMPERAMENTS / NEW HOFESH SHECHTER / SONG OF THE EARTH George Balanchine / NEW Hofesh Shechter / Kenneth MacMillan Music: Paul Hindemith / Koen Kessels / Gustav Mahler 27, 30 March, 8, 10, … [Read more...] about Casting for Royal Ballet triple bill in March and La fille mal gardée in April

The Royal Ballet celebrates founding choreographer Frederick Ashton

10 October 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

From 18 October until 12 November The Royal Ballet will present a glorious mixed programme of four of Frederick Ashton’s finest ballets, celebrating not only his vast and impressive body of work but … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet celebrates founding choreographer Frederick Ashton

Introducing… Brandon Lawrence, Birmingham Royal Ballet

23 August 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started dancing at 8 years old and then I joined the Royal Ballet School full time at 14 Why did you start dancing? I’m not sure why… I was probably … [Read more...] about Introducing… Brandon Lawrence, Birmingham Royal Ballet

From Lombardy to London: Interview with the Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti

28 April 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Italian dancer Valentino Zucchetti is one of a large number of Italian dancers who go abroad to find work and realise their dreams. Italy has few ballet companies, and La Scala is the only one with … [Read more...] about From Lombardy to London: Interview with the Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti

Tsiskaridze: Real ballet dancers are trained in Paris, Moscow or St Petersburg

31 March 2014 by Gramilano 16 Comments

Forget the Royal Ballet School or the The School of American Ballet, Nikolai Tsiskaridze says there are only three real ballet schools in the world: the Paris Opera Ballet School, the Bolshoi Ballet … [Read more...] about Tsiskaridze: Real ballet dancers are trained in Paris, Moscow or St Petersburg

The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?

19 October 2011 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Milan's newspaper, the most influential Italian paper, Il Corriere della Sera, almost ignored La Raymonda at La Scala last week, with Valeria Crippa's short article dismissing it quickly. Here the … [Read more...] about The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?

Ashton takes the ribbon theme to extreme: Birmingham Royal Ballet with La Fille in London

19 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Birmingham Royal Ballet are at London's Sadler's Wells this week with two programmes. The triple bill, which kicked off the mini-season last night, consists of Checkmate, Symphonic Variations … [Read more...] about Ashton takes the ribbon theme to extreme: Birmingham Royal Ballet with La Fille in London

Narrative ballets and an American tour for the Paris Opera Ballet in 2011-12

10 March 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Paris Opera Ballet have announced their 2011-2012 season. It's good to see Ashton's "La Fille mal Gardée" again in the programming - let's hope it will be broadcast this time round. Narrative … [Read more...] about Narrative ballets and an American tour for the Paris Opera Ballet in 2011-12

National Ballet of Canada announces it’s 60th anniversary season: 2011-2012

9 February 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The National Ballet of Canada’s 2011-12 season, which celebrates the company’s 60th anniversary, is full of surprises. Not only are the production choices unusual, but the time-honoured format of one … [Read more...] about National Ballet of Canada announces it’s 60th anniversary season: 2011-2012

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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

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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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