After almost a month touring China, La Scala’s ballet company popped back to Milan for a run of Manon performances, before popping off to Australia for thirteen performances in Brisbane, from 7 to 18 November. It is the company’s first time in Australia and they are taking two of their most popular productions: Don Quixote and Giselle. Performances are at the Queensland … [Read more...] about Illustrated look at La Scala’s visit to Australia with Don Quixote and Giselle
Maria Eichwald
To Carla Fracci, on your 80th Birthday, from your colleagues and friends
Today is the 80th birthday of the Italian ballerina, Carla Fracci. She was born in Milan on 20 August 1936. To celebrate we asked fellow ballerinas, as well as actresses and designers she has worked with, for messages and best wishes on a very special day. with thanks to Merrill Ashley - Aurora Benelli - Rebecca Bianchi - Sabrina Brazzo - Rossella Brescia - Deborah Bull - … [Read more...] about To Carla Fracci, on your 80th Birthday, from your colleagues and friends
Viktorina Kapitonova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I was dancing at home the whole time as a young child, my mum sent me with my sister to the house of the arts, where children could audition to study all arts, like drawing, clay modelling, dancing and singing. The singing teacher would not take me as I was so bad, so I took up clay modelling and dancing. I loved to dance all styles on … [Read more...] about Viktorina Kapitonova answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
My Big Fat Italian Ballet Gala
The Gala des Étoiles at La Scala made me feel as though I’d eaten all the icing on the cake: happy, but a little woozy. Don Q? Check! Corsaire? Check! Manon and Romeo and Juliet? Check! Spartacus? Check! As you can see if you scroll down to the programme, it wasn’t all hoary favourites, and when the interpreters are some of the best dancers in the world it would be churlish … [Read more...] about My Big Fat Italian Ballet Gala
Full programme of la Scala’s Gala des Étoiles – 30 and 31 October
Below is the full programme of Gala des Étoiles, at La Scala on 30 and 31 October. The Gala will be transmitted live by Italian television, Rai, on Rai5, and in cinemas internationally both live and over the next two months. It can also be followed live from the wings via La Scala's site and its YouTube channel with Gramilano and Silvia Farina presenting this rare … [Read more...] about Full programme of la Scala’s Gala des Étoiles – 30 and 31 October
Zakharova, Guérin and Legris in new works by Patrick de Bana for China
Svetlana Zakharova is to dance two modern pieces in the Gala Baiser Volé which closes the season at Shanghai's Grand Theatre on 9 August. It will be the first time that the Russian ballerina dances in China. Revelation is a work that she has performed many times in such events over the last eight years since Japanese choreographer Motoko Hirayama created it for her. It is a … [Read more...] about Zakharova, Guérin and Legris in new works by Patrick de Bana for China
La Scala complete Ballet casts and dates: 2014 — 2015
17 December (Preview for young people) 18, 19 (2 perfs), 28, 30, 31 December 2014 4, 10, 16, 18 January 2015 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Choreography: Nacho Duato Conductor: Vladimir Fedoseyev Sets and Costumes: Jérôme Kaplan Étoile: Roberto Bolle Guest Artist: Maria Eichwald Corpo di Ballo e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala Coro di Voci Bianche e … [Read more...] about La Scala complete Ballet casts and dates: 2014 — 2015
Le Spectre de rose and La rose malade at La Scala
As an antipasto before the one act opera Cavalleria Rusticana, La Scala put on two related ballets - though unrelated to the opera - which fitted neatly together. Two ten-minute gems: Michel Fokine's Le Spectre de Rose and Roland Petit's La rose malade. Le Spectre de Rose is one of those ballets which must be danced full out for what it is. It can't be 'modernised', as could … [Read more...] about Le Spectre de rose and La rose malade at La Scala
Maria Eichwald answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? I saw in TV the ballet Swan Lake I wanted to be a ballerina. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Maya Plisetskaya, Galina Ulanova and Ekaterina Maxsimova. Which dancer do you most admire? I don't admire just one dancer. There are a lot of dancers with different and very … [Read more...] about Maria Eichwald answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
La Scala’s 2011-2012 opera and ballet season announced
La Scala held a press conference this morning to announce its 2011-2012 season. How times, and timing, have changed. Just ten years ago the season was being presented in late June, with roles "to be announced" and events "to be confirmed". Italians are resigned to their fate: inefficiency - like corrupt politicians - is the norm, so with a shrug of the shoulders they say … [Read more...] about La Scala’s 2011-2012 opera and ballet season announced