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