Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra talks to Paul Arrowsmith ahead of the UK tour of Mariposa – "Adapting opera into non-verbal dance was an exciting, but certainly difficult." Nicknamed ‘the Pedro … [Read more...] about Interview: Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra on Mariposa – a Queer Tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
[Interview] Tenor Luciano Ganci – singing with “a heart and soul full of love and joy”
Tenor Luciano Ganci has been making waves for quite a few years now, and at 42 he finds himself with a large repertoire including twenty Verdi roles. He’s currently rehearsing Madama Butterfly at The … [Read more...] about [Interview] Tenor Luciano Ganci – singing with “a heart and soul full of love and joy”
Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season
The Royal Opera House has announced its next Cinema Season with 13 productions, eight of which will be broadcast to screens around the world. The season begins in September when Music Director of … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season
[Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
The current run of Les contes d’Hoffmann at La Scala sees soprano Eleonora Buratto making her debut as Antonia. After the opening night, I asked her how she was settling into her new role. It's a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
The conductor Nello Santi has died at 88. He last worked at La Scala in November 2017, when he was 86, conducting Nabucco. He was born in 1931 in Adria in the Veneto region. He was the director of … [Read more...] about Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
Hui He answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
When did you start singing? I always loved to sing since I was a child. I sang on every occasion, also during public events at school, where my maths teacher heard me and advised me to take singing … [Read more...] about Hui He answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
More than 10% tune in to see Andrea Chénier live from La Scala
11,1% of Italy's viewing public tuned in to watch Andrea Chénier transmitted yesterday evening, live from La Scala. 2,077,000 viewers followed the production, with over 11 million people watching it … [Read more...] about More than 10% tune in to see Andrea Chénier live from La Scala
Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? I started as a young girl… for as long as I can remember. Why did you start singing? I started by accident. I was supposed to go to my saxophone … [Read more...] about Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? When I was 11 to a disc of Rigoletto with Gobbi, Callas and Di Stefano; a blanket on my shoulder and an umbrella served as my cloak and … [Read more...] about Franco Vassallo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
The studio recording - her first in six years - explores the generation of Italian composers that followed Verdi, including three duets with tenor Joseph Calleja Eternamente - The Verismo … [Read more...] about Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente – The Verismo Album
Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
The staging of La traviata is the lavish Liliana Cavani production with sets by Dante Ferretti with which Verdi’s masterpiece returned to La Scala in 1990 conducted by Riccardo Muti. It was performed … [Read more...] about Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
Jonas Kaufmann on his return to singing after 4 months, and his love of Italian singability
Jonas Kaufmann has not sung since September when he sang the programme from his glorious new cd, Dolce Vita, at Teatro San Carlo in Naples. He was forced to cancel his imminent appearances due to … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann on his return to singing after 4 months, and his love of Italian singability
Chailly’s Madama Butterfly is a revelation at La Scala – Maria José Siri captivating in the title role
So Madama Butterfly has finally had the triumph at La Scala that Puccini was hoping for in 1904 when the opera received its world premiere. Instead, 112 years ago, it was greeted with whistles and … [Read more...] about Chailly’s Madama Butterfly is a revelation at La Scala – Maria José Siri captivating in the title role
Preview of the sumptuous new Madama Butterfly at La Scala
The opening of an opera season is an important event at any opera house, but at La Scala it is indeed something special. It is always on 7 December, Milan’s saint’s day. St Ambrose was the bishop of … [Read more...] about Preview of the sumptuous new Madama Butterfly at La Scala
Riccardo Chailly on Puccini’s first Madama Butterfly, soon to revisit La Scala
There is a small exhibition in La Scala’s museum which looks at the theatre’s previous productions of Madama Butterfly, an opera that had its world premiere at the theatre in 1904. What is surprising … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly on Puccini’s first Madama Butterfly, soon to revisit La Scala
The first Berkshire Opera Festival opens its doors with Madama Butterfly
The Berkshires in Massachusetts is about to welcome the Berkshire Opera Festival which aims “to entertain and enrich the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the Berkshire region by … [Read more...] about The first Berkshire Opera Festival opens its doors with Madama Butterfly
Puccini’s granddaughter against Riccardo Chailly’s booed Madama Butterfly
Riccardo Chailly’s ‘Puccini Project’ at La Scala will continue with a new production of Madama Butterfly to open the 2016-2017 Season. The opera was written for La Scala in February 1904 and was … [Read more...] about Puccini’s granddaughter against Riccardo Chailly’s booed Madama Butterfly
Maria José Siri on being chosen as Chailly’s Butterfly at La Scala
Soprano Maria José Siri will be the protagonist of Madama Butterfly for the opening of the La Scala opera season on 7 December 2016. She was born in Uruguay but has been living for several years in … [Read more...] about Maria José Siri on being chosen as Chailly’s Butterfly at La Scala
La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts
Ballet Season 2016-2017 Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 The new season opens with another step along the path of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini Project, Madama Butterfly, which will be directed … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts
Alexander Pereira’s new season at La Scala is rejected by the Lombardy Region
La Scala’s Chief Executive, Alexander Pereira, saw his proposal for the theatre’s 2016-2017 season rejected yesterday by the Lombardy Region, one of the founding members of the Scala Foundation. … [Read more...] about Alexander Pereira’s new season at La Scala is rejected by the Lombardy Region
ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
All the details of the 2016-2017 Opera Season at London's Royal Opera House: skip to section: ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF THE ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON THE ROYAL OPERA SEASON … [Read more...] about ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
Marco Berti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? More or less I’ve always sung. First at my local church, then one day my cousin, who sung Ave Marie for weddings, gave me the chance to try and I … [Read more...] about Marco Berti answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
La Scala pays tribute to Fiorenza Cossotto
Yesterday, La Scala celebrated Fiorenza Cossotto’s 80th birthday with a conference in the Toscanini Foyer. Joining her were Sabino Lenoci and Giancarlo Landini from L’Opera Magazine. The idea of … [Read more...] about La Scala pays tribute to Fiorenza Cossotto
Warner Classics issue Maria Callas’ new LP
Warner Classics released a new Maria Callas LP today. LP? Yes LP! Although the Long Playing disc has had a niche market after the introduction of CDs in the pop music field, especially for indie … [Read more...] about Warner Classics issue Maria Callas’ new LP
Fiorenza Cossotto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? When I was a girl. Why did you start singing? For my own personal enjoyment. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? No one. Which … [Read more...] about Fiorenza Cossotto answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Great tenor Carlo Bergonzi dies at 90
Carlo Bergonzi (born Polesine Parmense, 13 July 1924 – died Milan, 25 July 2014) Carlo Bergonzi, one of the greatest tenors of the 20th Century, died last night in Milan's Auxologico Institute, just … [Read more...] about Great tenor Carlo Bergonzi dies at 90
Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84
Renato Cioni, the great Tuscan tenor, died today in his home town of Portoferraio, on the island of Elba, where he was born almost 85 years ago. His career took off in the mid 1950s when he sang in … [Read more...] about Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84
Fabio Luisi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition
Q&A When did you start playing an instrument? When I was three and a half years old. Why did you start playing? My parents sent me to piano lessons, for me it was more like a game. Which … [Read more...] about Fabio Luisi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition
Get on your running shoes to catch up with Fabio Luisi
Fabio Luisi’s a busy man. The 2013-2014 season finds him conducting operas at Zurich, the Met and La Scala, as well as giving countless concerts throughout the world. In his second season … [Read more...] about Get on your running shoes to catch up with Fabio Luisi
Soprano Sena Jurinac dies at 90
Sena Jurinac has died in southern Germany at age 90. The Vienna State Opera confirmed the death today, saying it is mourning the loss of a “legendary artist who shaped not only the Vienna State … [Read more...] about Soprano Sena Jurinac dies at 90