Tenor Marcello Giordani died this afternoon following a heart attack – he was 56 years old. He was at his home in Augusta in the Province of Syracuse when at about 3 pm, after lunch, he felt unwell, but an hour of attempts to revive him by medical staff who arrived by ambulance and helicopter were to no avail. Just a month ago he was singing the role of Calaf in Turandot at … [Read more...] about Tenor Marcello Giordani has died at 56
La Scala
Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Three years ago, Jacopo Tissi left La Scala to join the Bolshoi Company in Moscow. Makhar Vaziev, the Company’s current director, was previously the director at La Scala and had seen Tissi’s work. It was Vaziev (on having to find a substitute for Sergei Polunin, who was himself a substitute for David Hallberg), who chose the young corps de ballet dancer to partner Svetlana … [Read more...] about Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Vittorio Grigolo comments on recent accusations after a triumphant performance at La Scala
Vittorio Grigolo received an enthusiastic ovation after his performance as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’amore at La Scala. After having seen contracts suspended with The Royal Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala decided to take no action against the tenor as there is an undergoing investigation by The Royal Opera House. The audience was clearly very much on Grigolo’s side … [Read more...] about Vittorio Grigolo comments on recent accusations after a triumphant performance at La Scala
La Scala remembers Jessye Norman in words and pictures
Jessye Norman didn’t sing very often at La Scala, but the impact on the few occasions when she appeared was great. The opera house released the following photos from its archives today to remember the soprano, who died yesterday morning in New York following complications from a spinal cord injury she sustained in 2015. She was 74. The management and all the workers at La … [Read more...] about La Scala remembers Jessye Norman in words and pictures
Vittorio Grigolo: I couldn’t apologise. I was sent home like a killer.
December 2019 UPDATE: Colleagues support Vittorio Grigolo as he replies to being fired by the Royal Opera House and the Met In a video to his fans, Vittorio Grigolo has put forward his version of the story of his alleged groping a colleague onstage while on tour with The Royal Opera. The action led to him being suspended from The Royal Opera and The Metropolitan Opera while … [Read more...] about Vittorio Grigolo: I couldn’t apologise. I was sent home like a killer.
Photo Album: Giselle at La Scala with Svetlana Zakharova and David Hallberg
Opening Night - 17 September 2019 Giselle Svetlana Zakharova Albrecht David Hallberg Duke of Courland Alessandro Grillo Principess Bathilde Marta Romagna Giselle's mother Beatrice Carbone Hilarion Mick Zeni Wilfried Riccardo Massimi Hunter Massimo Garon Peasants Pas de deux Martina Arduino, Nicola Del Freo Giselle's friends Alessia Auriemma, Christelle … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Giselle at La Scala with Svetlana Zakharova and David Hallberg
Greta Hodgkinson receives a special gift from The National Ballet of Canada on her retirement
Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, has announced that Greta Hodgkinson will retire as Principal Dancer in 2020 after a career that spans 30 years. She will dance the title role in Giselle and appear in Petite Mort in November as well as The Nutcracker in December. Her final performance as Principal Dancer will be the role of Marguerite in Frederick … [Read more...] about Greta Hodgkinson receives a special gift from The National Ballet of Canada on her retirement
Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
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
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