There will not be 24, but now 25 voices in La Scala’s gala to open its 2020-2021 season A riveder le stelle (Seeing the Stars Again). On 7 December, the video introducing the evening will feature the voice of Mirella Freni singing “Io son l’umile ancella” from Adriana Lecouvreur. The gala will be shown live on various television and radio channels worldwide. Freni, who died … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season
La Scala
December’s Dancing Times features Manuel Legris, Eleonora Abbagnato, and other delights
The latest issue of Dancing Times is now on sale. The December 2020 issue ends the year when the magazine celebrated its 110th anniversary, and even with the cancellation of so many shows the world over, it continued its proud tradition of never having skipped an issue, even during the war years. In the UK recently there were performances to review in Birmingham, Leeds and … [Read more...] about December’s Dancing Times features Manuel Legris, Eleonora Abbagnato, and other delights
La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December
Despite coronavirus restrictions, La Scala will celebrate the opening of its season 2020-2021 – however long or short it may be – on 7 December, the feast of Saint Ambrose, Milan’s saint’s day. The evening, A riveder le stelle (Seeing the Stars Again), will be broadcast live by Rai Cultura on Italian television’s Rai 1 at 5pm, as well as Arte and other platforms. Riccardo … [Read more...] about La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December
La Scala cancels its famous opening night of the opera season
The Board of Directors of Teatro alla Scala met today and, due to the current epidemiological situation and the continually tightening regulatory framework, has decided to cancel the planned opening of the 2020-2021 season at the opera house. It understood that the conditions do not exist to rehearse and produce a production which would be open to the public and also be … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels its famous opening night of the opera season
Theatres to close in Italy from tomorrow
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, has announced that from tomorrow until (at least) the 24 November all theatres and concert halls will close. This is due to the rapidly escalating numbers of coronavirus cases in the country. Restaurants and bars will close at 6pm, and gyms (including dancing schools, centres for Pilates and Gyrotonic etc), swimming pools and … [Read more...] about Theatres to close in Italy from tomorrow
La Scala UN documentary-dance gala, tonight at 6pm (CET)
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Foundation of the United Nations, Teatro alla Scala, following on the initiative of the Italian Permanent Representation to the United Nations, together with the Founder and main Partner of the bank Intesa Sanpaolo's Season, has made a documentary on dance with the participation of the theatre's étoile Roberto Bolle, the principal … [Read more...] about La Scala UN documentary-dance gala, tonight at 6pm (CET)
Aida suspended as entire La Scala company sent home in quarantine
After tenor Francesco Meli tested positive for Covid-19 and was substituted yesterday by Jonas Kaufmann, La Scala arranged for the whole Aida cast to be tested. The first of the swab tests was negative for the whole company, but this morning there was a positive result from the second swab. The theatre alerted the health authorities who ordered a period of quarantine … [Read more...] about Aida suspended as entire La Scala company sent home in quarantine
Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus
Tenor Francesco Meli has tested positive for coronavirus, though he is asymptomatic. Tonight's last concert performance of Aida at La Scala should have seen Meli as Radamès, instead the role will be sung by Jonas Kaufmann who is in town for a recital at the opera house on Thursday. Riccardo Chailly will conduct the performance which also features Saioa Hernández as Aida and … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus
[Review] In difficult times, the MilanOltre Contemporary Dance Festival completes a month of shows
It is a minor miracle that the MilanOltre contemporary dance festival managed to present its 34th edition this year. The organisers made many changes to the original programme – the company from China were not present, for example – but some excellent shows were on offer. Milan’s Teatro Elfo Puccini could only sell 40% of its capacity and, of course, the anti-covid … [Read more...] about [Review] In difficult times, the MilanOltre Contemporary Dance Festival completes a month of shows
La Scala cancels today’s 2020/2021 season announcement amid Covid fears
La Scala announced several days ago that it wouldn't be issuing season tickets this year as planning a whole season would be unwise. The theatre announced that instead, today, at 11.30, it would announce programming from the beginning of the season - 7 December - until March 2021. However, this morning La Scala decided to cancel its online press conference. In view of the … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels today’s 2020/2021 season announcement amid Covid fears
