The latest issue of Dancing Times is out tomorrow. In September’s issue, I cover Wayne McGregor’s “amazing” Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri giving a “frighteningly intense” performance alongside an excellent cast from La Scala Ballet including “powerful and touching” performances from Timofej Andrijashenko as Septimus and Claudio Coviello as Evans, and Gioacchino … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
La Scala
Russian ballet star Vladimir Derevianko on Rome Ballet’s Eleonora Abbagnato
Vladimir Derevianko, Russian dancer, coach, choreographer, company director, and TV panellist, has an international understanding of dance and, being that he is based in Rome, is ideally positioned to see the recent problems at Rome Opera Ballet objectively.He left an interview with Adnkronos, the news agency that first published the letter from the trade unions representing … [Read more...] about Russian ballet star Vladimir Derevianko on Rome Ballet’s Eleonora Abbagnato
Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti is Mercutio in the Kobborg-Polunin-Cojocaru Romeo and Juliet
On the 26 August, there will be a single performance only of Johan Kobborg’s new production of Romeo and Juliet with Sergei Polunin and Alina Cojocaru in the title roles. But when the theatre in Verona’s vast Arena with 30,000 seats it is the equivalent of a 15-performance run in an opera house.Joining them on stage will be The Royal Ballet’s First Soloist, Valentino … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti is Mercutio in the Kobborg-Polunin-Cojocaru Romeo and Juliet
Eleonora Abbagnato in Rome: “She should be rewarded with applause”
The recent letter sent by unions representing the dancers at the Rome Opera Ballet complaining about the “disrespectful” behaviour of its director, Eleonora Abbagnato, has sparked much discussion – mainly in Italian – on social media. There have been many indignant tut-tutters, scandalised (often in quite colourful language) by the goings-on in Rome, yet only one side of the … [Read more...] about Eleonora Abbagnato in Rome: “She should be rewarded with applause”
Rock ballet ‘SHINE Pink Floyd Moon’ by Micha van Hoecke tours Italy’s open air festivals
Belgian choreographer, Micha van Hoecke, has collaborated extensively with conductor Riccardo Muti over the years, providing choreography for operas when the Maestro was head of La Scala, and then later in Rome when Muti took over at the Rome Opera for a short time. The association also brought him to the Ravenna Festival, founded and run by Muti’s wife, Cristina Mazzavillani, … [Read more...] about Rock ballet ‘SHINE Pink Floyd Moon’ by Micha van Hoecke tours Italy’s open air festivals
The magnificent Tokyo Ballet thrills at La Scala
After nine years away, the Tokyo Ballet returned to Milan as part of its Italian tour. The four-day stay saw two programmes with some of the company’s ‘greatest hits’. A triple bill consisted of Balanchine’s Serenade, Kylián’s Dreamtime, and Béjart’s Le Sacre du printemps; the second programme was Béjart’s The Kabuki.Serenade was beautiful to behold from the mystic, ‘Casta … [Read more...] about The magnificent Tokyo Ballet thrills at La Scala
Verdi’s I masnadieri at La Scala is dark and wonderful in David McVicar’s exciting production
David McVicar’s new production of I masnadieri (The Robbers) for La Scala features a monumental set by Charles Edwards which is modified during the opera, but largely remains the same, so there is a line of showers (functional) alongside a tomb and a series of tavern tables and benches all within the entrance hall of a castle. It is beautifully lit throughout by Adam … [Read more...] about Verdi’s I masnadieri at La Scala is dark and wonderful in David McVicar’s exciting production
La Scala mourns the death of a tenor with a minute’s silence and moving trumpet solo
Before the final performance of I masnadieri at La Scala yesterday evening, the curtain rose on a crowded set with the chorus, soloists, technicians and other backstage theatre workers, together with the director of the chorus, Bruno Casoni, and the intendant of the theatre, Alexander Periera. They were there to pay their respects to tenor Giuseppe Bellanca, a member of the … [Read more...] about La Scala mourns the death of a tenor with a minute’s silence and moving trumpet solo
In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
If there is a ballet that belongs to La Scala, it’s Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, created for the ballet company in 1966 with Carla Fracci and Nureyev in the main roles. It was performed 152 times until 2007, when Tchaikovsky’s score fell silent for eight years until awoken by Alexei Ratmansky when he brought his reconstructed version to Milan in September … [Read more...] about In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
Günther Groissböck at La Scala – triumphant with caution
Günther Groissböck’s entrance at La Scala for his recital was formal and perfectly polite, but gave away nothing about the man; and so it was during the first group of Leid by Brahms, the Vier ernste Gesänge (Four Serious Songs). His unforced bass completely submitted to his will and – aside from some small cracks which seemed to indicate the tail end of a cold – was entirely … [Read more...] about Günther Groissböck at La Scala – triumphant with caution