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
La Scala
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
“Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
A series of emails between Cecilia Bartoli’s husband, Oliver Widmer, and the Intendant of La Scala, Alexander Pereira, confirm that the singer has withdrawn from all three Handel operas that were chosen as part of a project that she helped cultivate.Dear Alexander, Cecilia is shocked by the decision not to extend your contract. In these circumstances, she does not believe … [Read more...] about “Don’t abandon me” – Cecilia Bartoli cancels three operas at La Scala
Cecilia Bartoli pulls out of her Baroque project at La Scala in October
Cecilia Bartoli has cancelled her participation in the baroque trilogy at La Scala, which was created around her. The project will present three Handel operas over the next three seasons, in the autumn of 2019 (Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare in Egitto), 2020 (Semele) and 2021 (Ariodante).When tickets went on sale yesterday for Robert Carsen’s new production of Giulio Cesare … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli pulls out of her Baroque project at La Scala in October
Video: Carla Fracci and Roberto Bolle dance Le Spectre de la rose, 1998
Shortly before Carla Fracci's 62nd birthday, she and 23-year-old Roberto Bolle went to Toyko for the 14th Toyko Summer Music Festival dedicated to Diaghilev and 20th Century Ballet. The young star had been promoted to principal dancer at La Scala in 1996 and had already embarked on an international freelance career.On 9 and 10 July 1998 they danced Le Spectre de la rose. I … [Read more...] about Video: Carla Fracci and Roberto Bolle dance Le Spectre de la rose, 1998
Jessica Pratt at La Scala – the recital platform is a harsh judge
Jessica Pratt must be a nice woman: a feet-on-the-floor, smiley, let’s-get-this-job-done kind of girl. Her recital at La Scala felt like watching your sis’ on stage. In fact, a lot of the audience were obviously friends or people who thought of her as a friend, and there was a standing ovation at the end which doesn’t happen in Milan unless, maybe, it’s a farewell performance … [Read more...] about Jessica Pratt at La Scala – the recital platform is a harsh judge
La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
This morning, Frédéric Olivieri, director of La Scala’s ballet company, announced the theatre's 2019-2020 season:Sylvia14 December 2019 – 14 January 2020Music: Léo Delibes Choreography: Manuel Legris based on Louis Mérante and others Story and libretto: Manuel Legris and Jean-François Vazelle based on Jules Barbier and Jacques de Reinach Sets and costumes: Luisa … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
The La Scala Ballet usually fields a first cast, and several alternative casts, but not with Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works – here it was very much a case of a first cast and a second cast. The first featured two guests from the original Royal Opera House production from 2015 – Alessandra Ferri and Federico Bonelli – and most of the company’s principal dancers; the second cast … [Read more...] about McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
Dancing Times, May edition – including Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column reviewing world premieres of Winterreise and Carmen
Dancing Times’ May issue is out now, with a glorious cover featuring Margot Fonteyn – the only dancer to be given the title prima ballerina assoluta by The Royal Ballet – who was born 100 years ago on 18 May.The magazine celebrates the centenary of Fonteyn's birth with articles by The Royal Ballet’s director Kevin O’Hare, dance critic Alastair Macaulay, and the Royal Academy … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, May edition – including Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column reviewing world premieres of Winterreise and Carmen