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La Scala

Riccardo Chailly stops orchestra and chorus after mobile phone rings

7 June 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Riccardo Chailly Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala - photo by Brescia e Amisano

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

27 May 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko outside La Scala in Milan © Graham Spicer

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

26 May 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Events - 'Magnifica Fabbrica' - La Scala workshops, Milan

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

29 April 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Valery Gergievfoto: Marco Borggreve

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

[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”

22 April 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

GALA FRACCI - L'heure exquise - Alessandra Ferri Carsten Jung - photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala (4)

When I was three, I was already living out stories in my head and had the feeling of another reality calling me. Even though my parents didn't go to the theatre, I said, “I want to go to dance … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”

[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part one: “The voice of the soul is immense”

21 April 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Alessandra Ferri photo by ASH photography

Alessandra Ferri has had a long career – albeit interrupted for six years when she retired – though ‘career’ is a word she doesn’t like. It implies a job more than a vocation. It implies a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part one: “The voice of the soul is immense”

Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci

13 April 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

GALA FRACCI - Giselle - photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

How to celebrate a great dancer on stage? How to evoke memories of their artistry without creating a parody of their talent? Certainly, with Carla Fracci and the American Ballet Theatre video of … [Read more...] about Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci

Jacopo Tissi moves from the Bolshoi Ballet to La Scala

31 March 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

08 - La Bayadère, with Jacopo Tissi, photo by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

From the 2022-2023 season, Jacopo Tissi will be a guest principal dancer with the La Scala Ballet Company. The contract has been agreed with ballet director Manuel Legris and theatre manager Dominique … [Read more...] about Jacopo Tissi moves from the Bolshoi Ballet to La Scala

[Review] Balanchine’s Jewels at La Scala shows the company in top-notch form

30 March 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

21 - Emeralds by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust photo Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

The revival of George Balanchine’s Jewels at La Scala showed the company in top-notch form, finally shedding off the insecurities arising from cancelled premieres, last minutes Covid-related cast … [Read more...] about [Review] Balanchine’s Jewels at La Scala shows the company in top-notch form

Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan

26 March 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Ballet for Peace

Some of the dance names that have been making headlines recently will dance for Ukraine in two upcoming galas in Italy: Olga Smirnova, Victor Caixeta, Jacopo Tissi, Iana Salenko, Anastasia Matvienko … [Read more...] about Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan

La Scala replaces the silent Valery Gergiev

3 March 2022 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Timur Zangiev

On Tuesday evening (1 March), La Scala’s Intendant Dominique Meyer wrote a letter to Valery Gergiev informing him that La Scala will now hand over to a new conductor the performances of Tchaikovsky's … [Read more...] about La Scala replaces the silent Valery Gergiev

Anna Netrebko cancels Adriana Lecouvreur performances at La Scala

1 March 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Anna Netrebko at La Scala-05

La Scala finds itself scrambling to find a conductor for the remaining performances of The Queen of Spades from 4 March after Valery Gergiev refused to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and … [Read more...] about Anna Netrebko cancels Adriana Lecouvreur performances at La Scala

La Scala asks Valery Gergiev to denounce the invasion of Ukraine or leave

24 February 2022 by Gramilano 7 Comments

Valery Gergiev, photo by Mike Vilchuk © Teatro Mariinsky 2022

Last night, a new production of The Queen of Spades, conducted by Valery Gergiev, opened at La Scala. Gergiev – sometimes called ‘the Tsar’ because of his friendship with Vladimir Putin – was … [Read more...] about La Scala asks Valery Gergiev to denounce the invasion of Ukraine or leave

[Review] La Scala finally concludes its Bayadère run

8 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

03 - La Bayadère, with Svetlana Zakharova and Jacopo Tissi, photo by Brescia e Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

Dominque Meyer, La Scala’s director, said recently, “We have to accept a new logic, without fear or hysteria, just working day by day, with medical bulletins in hand and rapidly changing the rehearsal … [Read more...] about [Review] La Scala finally concludes its Bayadère run

Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91

2 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ezio Frigerio with his set for Otello, 7 dicembre 2001, photo by Andrea Tamoni

Ezio Frigerio has died at the age of 91. He made theatre history alongside Giorgio Strehler, Rudolf Nureyev, Eduardo De Filippo, and Vittorio De Sica. He leaves his wife and frequent collaborator, the … [Read more...] about Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91

Dancing Times, February 2022, out now

1 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Dancing Times cover 2022-02 crop

The February 2022 edition of Dancing Times looks at two new productions that jumped through a few hurdles before finally getting before an audience: Jonathan Gray reviews English National Ballet’s … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, February 2022, out now

The Bolshoi’s new principal dancer Jacopo Tissi returns to La Scala with Zakharova

21 January 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jacopo Tissi In La Bayadére, Photo By Damir Yusupov, 2018

La Scala’s new production of La Bayadère, which was moved from the holiday period to the end of January because of multiple Covid-19 infections among the dancers, has resulted in recasting because of … [Read more...] about The Bolshoi’s new principal dancer Jacopo Tissi returns to La Scala with Zakharova

[Photo Album] I Capuleti e i Montecchi at La Scala with Oropesa and Crebassa

17 January 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

19 - I Capuleti and i Montecchi - Crebassa and Oropesa, photo by Brescia and Amisano ©Teatro alla Scala

It seems that no production arrives before the public these days without a slight Covid hitch. I Capuleti e i Montecchi at La Scala saw the conductor Evelino Pidò withdraw during rehearsals "for … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] I Capuleti e i Montecchi at La Scala with Oropesa and Crebassa

20th Anniversary Gala for La Scala Academy

11 January 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Nutcracker with Rebecca Luca and Vincenzo Romano, Act I, photo by Annachiara Di Stefano-01

In 1813 the Imperial Regia Accademia di Ballo was founded, today’s Ballet School of Teatro alla Scala. It became one of the most esteemed dance training centres in the world. More recently, in … [Read more...] about 20th Anniversary Gala for La Scala Academy

Italy’s dance magazine Danza & Danza names winners of 2021 awards

10 January 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Davide Dato in The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's Love © Graham Spicer

The leading dance magazine in Italy, Danza & Danza, has announced its annual awards and, like last year, they are somewhat modified to include streams and videos of dance that have become new ways … [Read more...] about Italy’s dance magazine Danza & Danza names winners of 2021 awards

Triple bill axed to save COVID struck Bayadère at La Scala

31 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

15 - La bayadère - in the centre Maria Celeste Losa and Timofej Andrijashenko, photo by Brescia and Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

Aiming to save the sold-out performances of La Bayadère, La Scala has decided to postpone the planned contemporary programme at the end of January and use those dates to insert the cancelled … [Read more...] about Triple bill axed to save COVID struck Bayadère at La Scala

[Review] La Scala’s Bayadère was a race against time

30 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

32 - La bayadère - Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko and corps de ballet, photo by Brescia and Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

A new production of La Bayadère opened at La Scala a week later than planned after a Covid outbreak forced cancellations of the first performances. The television cameras waited patiently for the … [Read more...] about [Review] La Scala’s Bayadère was a race against time

La Scala cancels all performances of La Bayadère

29 December 2021 by Gramilano 2 Comments

05 - La bayadère - Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko, photo by Brescia and Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

After delays of the first night of the new production of La Bayadère at La Scala, and the recording on 21 December after a preview performance for young people the previous day, the theatre has now … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels all performances of La Bayadère

Roberto Bolle fights for dance in the Italian parliament

16 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Roberto Bolle in Waves by Massimiliano Volpini, photo by Andrej Uspenski (4)

Yesterday, Roberto Bolle spoke to the Chamber of Deputies – the Italian Parliament’s lower house – pleading for more support for dance in Italy. Let's tell it like it is: in recent decades Italian … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle fights for dance in the Italian parliament

La Scala cancels the opening of its ballet season for Covid

10 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

La Bayadère - version by Makarova - photo by Marco Brescia, Teatro alla Scala

An outbreak of Covid invections among the dancers at La Scala has led to the premiere of the new production of La Bayadère on 15 December being cancelled, or rather postponed. Hoping that the current … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels the opening of its ballet season for Covid

La Scala’s Macbeth – comments and photo album

8 December 2021 by Gramilano 3 Comments

5 - Macbeth, 7 December 2021, photo by Brescia e Amisano © Teatro alla Scala

Macbeth, which opened the opera season at La Scala on 7 December, was watched by 10.5% of Italians who were watching the television, equivalent to 2,640,000 people. Italy's President, Sergio … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Macbeth – comments and photo album

Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy ruffles La Scala’s feathers

5 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Fondazione Prada - Riccardo Muti - photo by Niccolo Quaresima

On the same day that La Scala opened its doors for a preview performance of the new production of Macbeth that will open its season on 7 December, the Prada Foundation in Milan welcomed Riccardo Muti … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy ruffles La Scala’s feathers

Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening

19 November 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Costume design by Luisa Spinatelli (1)

La Bayadère, one of the key ballets in the classical repertoire, premiered in St Petersburg in 1877. Marius Petipa created a perfect harmony between mass scenes and protagonists, and it was the … [Read more...] about Countdown to Bayadère – casting and designs for La Scala’s opening

Exciting debuts at La Scala: Alice Mariani and Mattia Semperboni

3 November 2021 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Don Quixote - Alice Mariani, Mattia Semperboni, photo by Ginevra Piccinin, Accademia Teatro alla Scala

While theatre debuts are highly anticipated and hopefully thrilling, delusion and disappointment can arrive all too quickly after curtain up. Happily, there was nothing to disappoint in Alice … [Read more...] about Exciting debuts at La Scala: Alice Mariani and Mattia Semperboni

Milan’s €120 million project to bring all La Scala’s laboratories to one site

31 October 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Palazzo di cristallo - photo Comune di Milano crop

La Scala’s on-stage productions are the tip of the iceberg of the enormous ‘behind the scenes’ forces in the laboratories where sets, costumes and props are created. The company’s laboratories have … [Read more...] about Milan’s €120 million project to bring all La Scala’s laboratories to one site

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GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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