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
Massimo Murru
Italian theatre director Filippo Crivelli dies at 93
Filippo Crivelli: born Milan, 27 March 1928 – died Milan, 6 February 2022 The theatre director Filippo Crivelli, who guided many artists on stage – from Maria Callas to Carla Fracci – died during … [Read more...] about Italian theatre director Filippo Crivelli dies at 93
La Scala pays tribute to Carla Fracci
La Scala is extremely saddened by the news of Carla Fracci's death today at her home in Milan. The theatre, the city and dance have lost an historical, legendary figure who left a strong mark on our … [Read more...] about La Scala pays tribute to Carla Fracci
Alessandra Ferri and Massimo Murru give Manon masterclasses from La Scala
La Scala’s new evening of ballet, Great Choreographers, which will be streamed on Saturday 15 May, features Kenneth MacMillan’s bedroom pas de deux from his ballet Manon. It will be danced by Virna … [Read more...] about Alessandra Ferri and Massimo Murru give Manon masterclasses from La Scala
[Photo Album] La Scala’s ballet company in docuseries and World Dance Day
Thursday 29 April at 19.00 CET - World Dance Day La Scala will broadcast a complete class with its corps de ballet on World Dance Day, 29 April. Ballet Director Manuel Legris chose to pre-record … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] La Scala’s ballet company in docuseries and World Dance Day
Online: Carla Fracci gives two Giselle masterclasses from La Scala
Carla Fracci is perhaps most famous for her performances as Giselle, so how right that she should return to the theatre where her career started to coach the young dancers who will be performing the … [Read more...] about Online: Carla Fracci gives two Giselle masterclasses from La Scala
Pia Russo and the art of teaching ballet
Pia Russo is a highly respected Italian ballet teacher, currently working at the Ballet School of Teatro San Carlo in Naples, one of the world’s oldest ballet schools, founded in 1812 by Salvatore … [Read more...] about Pia Russo and the art of teaching ballet
Proscaenium’s Gran Gala with the best of Italy’s dancing talent
Gramilano has already written about Cincia Puricelli’s dancing school Proscaenium, which is based in Gallarate, a town near Milan’s Malpensa airport. An ordinary town, and on the surface an ordinary … [Read more...] about Proscaenium’s Gran Gala with the best of Italy’s dancing talent
Massimo Murru to play Onegin for one last time? His fans are doing all they can.
Massimo Murru has always had a very faithful following due to his thoughtful and rigorous approach to every role he has tackled in his career, and his artistic honesty, almost to the point of … [Read more...] about Massimo Murru to play Onegin for one last time? His fans are doing all they can.
Sylvie’s last dance: a tribute to Guillem, the artist and her career
A tribute by Ioannides Yiannakis In 29 December 1984, after a memorable performance of Swan Lake at the Paris Opera, the great Rudolf Nureyev named an extraordinary 19-year-old étoile. Her name … [Read more...] about Sylvie’s last dance: a tribute to Guillem, the artist and her career
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? … [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 … [Read more...] about Full programme of la Scala’s Gala des Étoiles – 30 and 31 October
Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
Milan is not like London or New York… there’s not a lot of dance going on. The resident company at La Scala will be performing six titles during the coming season. That’s S-I-X. And there will not be … [Read more...] about Ballet’s biggest names come to Milan for 4 days of dance
Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘reconstruction’ of The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala made for one of the most interesting and satisfying evenings that I’ve had in the theatre for a long time. It is charming, it is … [Read more...] about Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Sergei Polunin replaces David Hallberg in Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty at La Scala
Sergei Polunin will replace David Hallberg in the performances of Alexei Ratmasky's The Sleeping Beauty at Milan's Teatro alla Scala. Polunin will partner Svetlana Zakharova for three performances … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin replaces David Hallberg in Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty at La Scala
Carla Fracci 79 (today) to Roberto Bolle 40
Today Carla Fracci turns 79∗ and during August, she has been performing once again. Roberto Bolle is half her age and at 40 shows no sign of ending his career on stage. In 2007 Bolle famously … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci 79 (today) to Roberto Bolle 40
Massimo Murru on Roland Petit: he was a great s*****o!
We tend to gloss over the negative aspects of colleagues who are no longer with us, and are usually discreet about their shortcomings when they are still alive. It is left to the gutter press to dig … [Read more...] about Massimo Murru on Roland Petit: he was a great s*****o!
Thoughts on Marianela Núñez’s life-affirming performance in Romeo and Juliet
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
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: … [Read more...] about La Scala complete Ballet casts and dates: 2014 — 2015
La Scala Ballet School’s director for 32 years on “Teaching Dance”
versione italiana Anna Maria Prina was the director of the La Scala Theatre Ballet School for thirty-two years, producing artists such as Mara Galeazzi, Massimo Murru, Roberto Bolle, Mick Zeni, … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet School’s director for 32 years on “Teaching Dance”
New YouTube Video: Roland Petit’s Chéri with Carla Fracci and Massimo Murru
Gramilano has talked about Roland Petit's charming and evocative ballet Chéri before, here and here. This is what Carla Fracci said after Petit's death in 2011: I talked to him for the last time … [Read more...] about New YouTube Video: Roland Petit’s Chéri with Carla Fracci and Massimo Murru
Roland Petit on Colette, Poulenc, Cocteau, Fracci, Murru and his ballet Chéri
Roland Petit's evocative and charming ballet, Chéri, was created at La Scala in 1996 for the mature Carla Fracci who turned sixty that year. Colette's story of an ageing woman's six-year relationship … [Read more...] about Roland Petit on Colette, Poulenc, Cocteau, Fracci, Murru and his ballet Chéri
Birthday Book: 200 years of La Scala’s ballet school
A book celebrating the 200th birthday of La Scala's Ballet School was launched at Milan's iconic theatre yesterday: Album di compleanno. 1813-2013. La Scuola di Ballo dell’Accademia Teatro alla … [Read more...] about Birthday Book: 200 years of La Scala’s ballet school
In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?
When Roberto Bolle popped out and in of the closet four years ago internet forums and gossip rags foamed at the mouth. Openly gay ballet dancers, like openly gay actors and singers, are few and far … [Read more...] about In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?
Hallberg débuts at La Scala, with Núñez, Zakharova, Osipova, Bolle and Vasiliev
Good news for dance at La Scala. Cutting down on the budget has meant axing three opera productions, but opera's loss is ballet's gain, for the 'cheaper' ballet performances have been bumped up from … [Read more...] about Hallberg débuts at La Scala, with Núñez, Zakharova, Osipova, Bolle and Vasiliev
Greta Hodgkinson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? At 4 years old. Why did you start dancing? As a child, I was always dancing around the house so it made sense. What’s your favourite … [Read more...] about Greta Hodgkinson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Ivan Vasiliev’s injury gives unknown Claudio Coviello a chance to shine
While it wasn't exactly a case of 'A Star is Born', 21-year-old Claudio Coviello was certainly given a golden opportunity when Ivan Vasiliev couldn't go on at La Scala last night. Coviello had … [Read more...] about Ivan Vasiliev’s injury gives unknown Claudio Coviello a chance to shine
The dance drain: who will save ballet in Italy?
Italians are great dancers, but they don't get much opportunity to demonstrate that in their homeland. The history of ballet is adorned with Italian talent: Giuseppina Bozzacchi was the … [Read more...] about The dance drain: who will save ballet in Italy?
New YouTube video: Manon, Act 1, the bedroom pas de deux with Sylvie Guillem and Massimo Murru
At the beginning of 2011 an extraordinary happening occurred in the ballet world... Sylvie Guillem, who had almost given up her pointe shoes and had been focusing on contemporary dance, returned to … [Read more...] about New YouTube video: Manon, Act 1, the bedroom pas de deux with Sylvie Guillem and Massimo Murru
Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? At 9 years old. Why did you start dancing? I saw Carla Fracci dancing. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn for their … [Read more...] about Vito Mazzeo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
