The conductor Nello Santi has died at 88. He last worked at La Scala in November 2017, when he was 86, conducting Nabucco. He was born in 1931 in Adria in the Veneto region. He was the director of Zurich Opera from 1958 to 1969. In 1960, Santi conducted the Wiener Philharmoniker for Don Carlo in Salzburg with Boris Christoff and Ettore Bastianini. At The Royal Opera House in … [Read more...] about Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
La Forza del Destino
Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? When I was 11 to a disc of Rigoletto with Gobbi, Callas and Di Stefano; a blanket on my shoulder and an umbrella served as my cloak and sword! Above all I loved "La donna è mobile" and the role of the Duke of Mantua; my voice would crack but I didn’t give in! Why did you start singing? Because I thought it was … [Read more...] about Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Rosalind Plowright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? Age 12. I had always sung before but only found my true voice at this age. My father was a bass player and had been playing in the orchestra for a performance of The Mikado. Whilst travelling back home I imitated the voice of Katisha and out came this big plummy rich sound... My father nearly drove off the road! Why did you start … [Read more...] about Rosalind Plowright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra has died. He was 43.
Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra died today from head injuries he suffered nine days ago in an accident while riding his scooter in Sicily. Following the accident on 27 August near Ragusa, Licitra was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Catania where he was reported to be in a stable condition after surgery. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Lictra, … [Read more...] about Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra has died. He was 43.
Carla Fracci and Josè Carreras present two new DVD releases from Milan’s La Scala
Hardy Classics, together with Italy's RAI television, announced the release of two DVDs, both filmed at Teatro alla Scala in 1978, and both representing Milan's theatre at its best: La Forza del Destino and the ballet Excelsior. Its enough to read down the cast lists to get an idea of the quality of these productions. La Forza del Destino with Montserrat Caballé, Josè … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci and Josè Carreras present two new DVD releases from Milan’s La Scala