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Makhar Vaziev

The Bolshoi Theatre’s Ballet Day online

29 October 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Russian theatres will not be taking part in World Ballet Day on 2 November, but The Bolshoi Theatre will host its annual live stream of dance on its YouTube channel on the eve of World Ballet … [Read more...] about The Bolshoi Theatre’s Ballet Day online

Ten leading Bolshoi dancers suspended

6 October 2022 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Uzbekistan poster

Leading Bolshoi dancers have been suspended from upcoming performances in Moscow after participating in a gala in Uzbekistan. On their day off, the dancers were in Tashkent, the capital, at the … [Read more...] about Ten leading Bolshoi dancers suspended

Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre

1 August 2021 by Gramilano 13 Comments

Makhar Vaziev, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet company, talks about some of the most discussed problems in ballet today, as well as wanting a third theatre in Moscow for the Bolshoi opera and … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet director on injury, race, harassment and a new theatre

#WorldBalletDay 2020: The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi and Australian Ballet itineraries for 29 October

27 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Darcey Bussell and The Royal Ballet rehearsing The Sleeping Beauty during World Ballet Day 2019 (c) 2019 ROH. Photograph by Gavin Smart

World Ballet Day 2020 on 29 October, will be the biggest ever celebration of global dance with 40 dance companies participating in this year’s live streamed event. Dance companies from around the … [Read more...] about #WorldBalletDay 2020: The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi and Australian Ballet itineraries for 29 October

Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”

4 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Jacopo Tissi in Swan Lake crop

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 … [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”

Bolshoi Ballet’s Vladislav Lantratov on the cancelling of Nureyev: There is nothing worse for an artist…

24 July 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

HELLO  Russia

On 8 July, after the dress rehearsal of the Bolshoi Ballet’s ambitious new ballet on the life of Rudolf Nureyev, the premiere was cancelled. Vladislav Lantratov was to have played Nureyev and, stunned … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet’s Vladislav Lantratov on the cancelling of Nureyev: There is nothing worse for an artist…

Bolshoi Ballet’s Italian dancer, Jacopo Tissi, on his first year in Moscow and dancing Diamonds at the Lincoln Center

12 July 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Jacopo Tissi in Le spectre de la rose, photo by Alexander Yakovlev

Last August, young ballet dancer Jacopo Tissi, resigned from the La Scala Ballet to accept the offer a contract with the Bolshoi Company. As I wrote last September, it’s not something that happens … [Read more...] about Bolshoi Ballet’s Italian dancer, Jacopo Tissi, on his first year in Moscow and dancing Diamonds at the Lincoln Center

Good news… Frédéric Olivieri’s back to head the La Scala Ballet

5 May 2017 by Gramilano 8 Comments

Frederic Olivieri, photo by Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala

Frédéric Olivieri has been named as the next director of the La Scala Ballet Company. His contract will run for the next three years. La Scala’s Intendant, Alexander Pereira, told the corps de … [Read more...] about Good news… Frédéric Olivieri’s back to head the La Scala Ballet

La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland

28 March 2017 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Marianela Nuñez, photo by Carlos Villamayor

The previously announced ballet to be performed at California’s Segerstrom Center by La Scala’s Ballet Company was Mauro Bigonzetti’s Cinderella, a ballet created for the opening of La Scala’s ballet … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet’s programme change for the US – with Bolle, Nuñez and Copeland

Mauro Bigonzetti resigns as director of La Scala Ballet Company

8 October 2016 by Gramilano 15 Comments

Mauro Bigonzetti, who was appointed as head of the La Scala Ballet at the beginning of this year, has been forced to step down. A severe back problem has persisted since the beginning of the summer … [Read more...] about Mauro Bigonzetti resigns as director of La Scala Ballet Company

Berlin dancers say ‘Save Staatsballett Berlin!’ with a Change.org petition

16 September 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

You may remember dancers from the La Scala Ballet Company objecting at the decision to appoint Mauro Bigonzetti as it's new boss and to his programming for his first season? Now dancers at Berlin have … [Read more...] about Berlin dancers say ‘Save Staatsballett Berlin!’ with a Change.org petition

La Scala dancer Jacopo Tissi joins the Bolshoi

13 September 2016 by Gramilano 14 Comments

Jacopo Tissi, the young Italian dancer who is starting to make waves, has been offered a contract with the Bolshoi Ballet Company. That’s not something that happens every day. The Moscow company, like … [Read more...] about La Scala dancer Jacopo Tissi joins the Bolshoi

Makhar Vaziev leaves La Scala to head the Bolshoi Ballet Company

26 October 2015 by Gramilano 10 Comments

Makhar Vaziev will leave his position as head of the La Scala Ballet Company and take over at the Bolshoi Ballet on 18 March 2016. The Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, Vladimir Urin, had already … [Read more...] about Makhar Vaziev leaves La Scala to head the Bolshoi Ballet Company

Cello Suites at La Scala: the good news and the bad news…

16 March 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

First the good news… The La Scala ballet company is in formidable shape. Makhar Vaziev and his team have nurtured many interesting talents and a piece to show off some of their qualities is surely … [Read more...] about Cello Suites at La Scala: the good news and the bad news…

Thoughts on Marianela Núñez’s life-affirming performance in Romeo and Juliet

22 October 2014 by Gramilano 5 Comments

Marianela Nunez and Gabriele Corrado

Marianela Núñez is an extraordinary dancer who seems to possess an inner light which not only makes her glow, but illuminates everyone around her. There is a pure, almost spiritual quality to her … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Marianela Núñez’s life-affirming performance in Romeo and Juliet

Andrey Merkuriev answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

1 October 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was five I started dancing things like the cha-cha-cha and rumba. Ballet began when I was ten. Why did you start dancing? Teachers and parents saw my … [Read more...] about Andrey Merkuriev answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

More dancers decide to leave Italy… most never come back

25 July 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Italy's Got Talent. Lots of it. Sometimes that talent finds it difficult to emerge - it's not always what you know but who you know - and sometimes there's not enough room for everyone to show what … [Read more...] about More dancers decide to leave Italy… most never come back

Partner-swapping at La Scala: Osipova/Sarafanov, Rojo/Vasiliev – Zakharova/Matvienko out

6 July 2014 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Intriguing casting changes at La Scala. In September, Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote was to have have four guest artists: Svetlana Zakharova paired with Denis Matvienko and Natalia Osipova with Ivan … [Read more...] about Partner-swapping at La Scala: Osipova/Sarafanov, Rojo/Vasiliev – Zakharova/Matvienko out

Carla Fracci, Claudio Coviello and the Prix Benois 2014

30 May 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

For more than twenty years the Benois Prize has been recognising talent with the most starry juries imaginable. The first year it consisted of Yury Grigorovich as its president, with Galina Ulanova … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci, Claudio Coviello and the Prix Benois 2014

Ballet globalisation continues as La Scala dancers abandon ship

23 September 2013 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The boat may not be sinking, but this season finds four members of the ballet company at Milan's La Scala moving elsewhere, and two, following in the footsteps of Kobborg and Cojocaru, made it a last … [Read more...] about Ballet globalisation continues as La Scala dancers abandon ship

Natalia Osipova and Claudio Coviello début in Nureyev’s Swan Lake

18 July 2013 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Prince Siegfried sleeps on his throne and in his dream he sees the evil Rothbart carrying off a white swan into the sky. This is how Rudolf Nureyev's version of Swan Lake begins, and ends. The ballet … [Read more...] about Natalia Osipova and Claudio Coviello début in Nureyev’s Swan Lake

Clau­dio Cov­i­ello spreads his wings in Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova

29 June 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

In a brave casting move, Makhar Vaziev, director of La Scala's ballet company, has given new-boy Clau­dio Cov­i­ello the opening night of Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova. 21-year-old Clau­dio … [Read more...] about Clau­dio Cov­i­ello spreads his wings in Swan Lake with Natalia Osipova

Raymonda at La Scala… a year on

7 October 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

A year ago at Milan's Teatro alla Scala the ballet company scored a hit with its restaging of that difficult piece Raymonda. The ballet's improbable story, with a lack of obvious dramatic push, can … [Read more...] about Raymonda at La Scala… a year on

La Scala dancers Petra Conti and Eris Nezha, a couple on and off-stage, are promoted to first dancers on the Bolshoi stage

23 December 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Last night, after the final performance of the George Balanchine's ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream by the Teatro alla Scala company at the newly restored Bolshoi Theatre, two of the company's … [Read more...] about La Scala dancers Petra Conti and Eris Nezha, a couple on and off-stage, are promoted to first dancers on the Bolshoi stage

Being groomed for stardom: Italian ballerina Petra Conti

9 December 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

23 year-old Petra Conti is a dancer at La Scala in Milan, who is being slowly brought before the public by director (ex-director of the Mariinsky) Makhar Vaziev. He first saw her when she spent a … [Read more...] about Being groomed for stardom: Italian ballerina Petra Conti

La Scala’s Raymonda “is a true banquet: pomp, circumstance, and an entire world on stage”, says the Financial Times

31 October 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Financial Times visited Milan's historic theatre to witness Sergei Vikharev’s reconstruction of Raymonda - a production which is sending ripples of interest and excitement around the ballet … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Raymonda “is a true banquet: pomp, circumstance, and an entire world on stage”, says the Financial Times

The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?

19 October 2011 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Milan's newspaper, the most influential Italian paper, Il Corriere della Sera, almost ignored La Raymonda at La Scala last week, with Valeria Crippa's short article dismissing it quickly. Here the … [Read more...] about The Times celebrates Milan’s Raymonda… but why?

La Scala’s Makhar Vaziev: It’s our first time in Oman, but we really hope it isn’t our last”

11 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

When Makhar Vaziev, the artistic director of Milan's Scala Ballet, first received an invitation for the company to perform at a new opera house in Muscat, he admits he drew a blank. Honestly, when we … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Makhar Vaziev: It’s our first time in Oman, but we really hope it isn’t our last”

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NEWS

New York City Ballet 2023 Spring Season is announced

Principal Brandon Lawrence to leave Birmingham Royal Ballet to join Ballett Zürich

Two new opera recordings to be released by Warner Classics/Erato

Four new Principal dancers for New York City Ballet

LaScalaTv, La Scala’s new streaming platform, is now live

Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

Pam Tanowitz’s Secret Things, her second world premiere for The Royal Ballet this season

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

Principal dancer Jared Angle to give final performance with NYCB

The Australian Ballet will tour to the Royal Opera House in August 2023

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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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