A new production of I Vespri Siciliani by Argentinian director Hugo de Ana – who has also designed the sets and costumes – opens at La Scala this evening, 28 January 2023. The performance will be … [Read more...] about [Interview] In conversation with Italian tenor Piero Pretti as he returns to La Scala for another debut
La Scala
Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan
Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence on 12 January 1923. Teatro alla Scala anticipates the celebration of the great director's centenary with the exhibition “Franco Zeffirelli - The La Scala Years" … [Read more...] about Franco Zeffirelli – The La Scala Years: an exhibition in Milan
Bruno Vescovo, former principal dancer with the La Scala Ballet, has died at 73
Bruno was a dancer of modest height with a fast dynamic, a physical quality that matched his personality. He often danced together with Anna Maria Grossi, a beautifully proportioned dancer who … [Read more...] about Bruno Vescovo, former principal dancer with the La Scala Ballet, has died at 73
[Review] Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker at La Scala – lacking fizz
The return to La Scala of Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker after 16 years gives back a well-loved production after the theatre flirted with versions by Duato and Balanchine, and it marks another step in … [Read more...] about [Review] Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker at La Scala – lacking fizz
Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January
On 28 and 29 January 2023, the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan will present Rasputin, a project by and starring Sergei Polunin – the ‘rock star of world dance’ according to the theatre’s … [Read more...] about Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January
1.5 million television spectators for Boris Godunov at La Scala
An opera in Russian, with a 6pm starting time, attracted one and a half million viewers (over 9% of the share) on Italian television. Certainly something of a success for La Scala's season opening … [Read more...] about 1.5 million television spectators for Boris Godunov at La Scala
La Scala’s glitzy season opening with Boris Godunov: Protests, Putin and politicians
This evening the curtain goes up at La Scala on the opera to open the season, Boris Godunov. Ukrainians asked for the Russian opera to be replaced. Then the idea emerged that the opera could be … [Read more...] about La Scala’s glitzy season opening with Boris Godunov: Protests, Putin and politicians
Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov on Boris Godunov, his 89th performance at La Scala
The Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov will be Boris Godunov for the opening of Milan’s opera season on 7 December 2022. It will be Abdrazakov’s 89th appearance on La Scala’s stage and his seventh time … [Read more...] about Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov on Boris Godunov, his 89th performance at La Scala
[Review] Luciana Savignano in Tango di Luna: “She came to me in sections”
TitleTango di LunaCompanyDANCEHAUSpiùVenueTeatro Franco Parenti, MilanDate29 October 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Luciana Savignano would probably loath to read a review that begins by stating her … [Read more...] about [Review] Luciana Savignano in Tango di Luna: “She came to me in sections”
La Scala and Manuel Legris pay tribute to Patricia Ruanne
The Teatro alla Scala and ballet company join the mourning in the dance world for the passing of Patricia Ruanne, a great performer and maître de ballet. She was entrusted with important … [Read more...] about La Scala and Manuel Legris pay tribute to Patricia Ruanne
Ballerina and coach Patricia Ruanne has died at 77
Patricia Ruanne was born in Leeds in the north of England in 1945, and studied at the Royal Ballet School from the age of 13, joining the Royal Ballet in 1962 where she became principal in 1969. She … [Read more...] about Ballerina and coach Patricia Ruanne has died at 77
La Scala Ballet’s full and empty houses – Covid or cash?
Recently at La Scala in Milan, I’ve heard many people saying that they are not booking in advance anymore as there are always discounted tickets on the day of the performance. Pre-Covid, this only … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet’s full and empty houses – Covid or cash?
[Review] An avalanche of debuts in Onegin at La Scala
TitleOneginCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate22 and 26 September 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Photos with Nicola Del Freo and Vittoria Valerio are featured in an album … [Read more...] about [Review] An avalanche of debuts in Onegin at La Scala
La Scala in città – Milan’s opera house offers five days of free events
La Scala continues with its successful project to decentralise performances, scattering the orchestra, chorus, corps de ballet and its ballet school students in various locations around Milan – and it … [Read more...] about La Scala in città – Milan’s opera house offers five days of free events
[Review] Nuñez and Bolle give powerful performances in Onegin at La Scala
An odd mixture of emotions came over me entering the stalls at La Scala to see Onegin. On the ballet’s previous outing, three years ago, I attended a performance with Carla Fracci. We’d walked from … [Read more...] about [Review] Nuñez and Bolle give powerful performances in Onegin at La Scala
La Scala’s costume department: I could take one of Callas’s costumes home
La Scala has an extraordinary collection of costumes from its past productions, going back over a hundred years – including, for example, twenty-five costumes designed for Maria Callas and Renata … [Read more...] about La Scala’s costume department: I could take one of Callas’s costumes home
[Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs
Cristina Pavarotti, 58, is Luciano Pavarotti’s second child, and will be in Los Angeles on 24 August for the positioning her father’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the accompanying … [Read more...] about [Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs
Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
There will be a new Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Luciano Pavarotti, who died in 2007 at 71. The laying ceremony will be on 24 August 2022 at 11.30 am (Los Angeles time) at 7065 Hollywood … [Read more...] about Pavarotti to have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
A refreshingly magical Giselle for a sweltering night in Milan
Have you ever given yourself a big kick up the backside for lamenting about something that others would give their eyeteeth to do? Getting ready to see the opening night of Giselle at La Scala had … [Read more...] about A refreshingly magical Giselle for a sweltering night in Milan
[Photo album] Giselle – La Scala with Nicoletta Manni, Timofej Andrijashenko, Jacopo Tissi
La Scala brought Giselle - its calling-card ballet - back to Milan (after a recent tour to Bologna) with an excellent cast featuring Nicoletta Manni as Giselle and Timofej Andrijashenko as Albrecht. … [Read more...] about [Photo album] Giselle – La Scala with Nicoletta Manni, Timofej Andrijashenko, Jacopo Tissi
Julio Bocca and Alessandra Ferri – together again at La Scala
Julio Bocca and Alessandra Ferri have shared the stage many times during their successful partnership which began in the 1980s when the American Ballet Theatre brought them together – it was a … [Read more...] about Julio Bocca and Alessandra Ferri – together again at La Scala
In the July edition of Dancing Times magazine…
In the July edition of Dancing Times magazine, my Danza in Italia column talks about La Scala Ballet’s exciting new dancer Alice Mariani as she comes to the end of her first season with the company. I … [Read more...] about In the July edition of Dancing Times magazine…
Promotions at La Scala Ballet announced with Alice Mariani as new Principal Dancer
The International Competition organised by Teatro alla Scala for awarding the posts of prima ballerina, soloists, and corps de ballet has been announced. Happily, as I predicted in the current … [Read more...] about Promotions at La Scala Ballet announced with Alice Mariani as new Principal Dancer
[Photo Album] Wayne McGregor new work at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
Yesterday, 24 June 2022, was the world premiere of a Wayne McGregor work entitled LORE (to the music of Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces), arriving as a 'sequel' to his work AfteRite (to Stravinsky's Le … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] Wayne McGregor new work at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
New Rigoletto brings boos back to La Scala
Mario Martone’s new production of Rigoletto at La Scala divided the public on the opening night. The 62-year-old Neapolitan film director has also directed many theatre productions and over the last … [Read more...] about New Rigoletto brings boos back to La Scala
Breaking the LORE: Wayne McGregor on his new dance work at La Scala
More rehearsal photos below Today is the 140th anniversary of the birth of Igor Stravinsky, so what a perfect day to meet Wayne McGregor and find out more about his two-part Stravinsky programme … [Read more...] about Breaking the LORE: Wayne McGregor on his new dance work at La Scala
Riccardo Chailly stops orchestra and chorus after mobile phone rings
Yesterday evening, during a concert at La Scala, Riccardo Chailly stopped the entire orchestra and chorus after a phone rang. The Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus were performing the moving … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly stops orchestra and chorus after mobile phone rings
Dancing Times’ June 2022 issue features La Scala’s Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko
In June’s edition of Dancing Times magazine (out now) I talk to La Scala’s principal dancers Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko about life as an onstage and offstage couple: Nicoletta Manni … [Read more...] about Dancing Times’ June 2022 issue features La Scala’s Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko
La Scala’s ‘Magnificent Factory’ – a new 70,000 square metre green home for laboratories and studios
The winning project of the international competition to find a design for the 'Magnifica Fabbrica' (Magnificent Factory) has been won by the Italian-Spanish group headed by designer Massimo Giuliani. … [Read more...] about La Scala’s ‘Magnificent Factory’ – a new 70,000 square metre green home for laboratories and studios
Putin’s conductor stole millions from his own charity
Valery Gergiev has embezzled millions of euros from his own charity, the Valery Gergiev Charity Foundation, to build an extensive property portfolio, according to the Moscow-based Anti-Corruption … [Read more...] about Putin’s conductor stole millions from his own charity
