Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev's The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala with an electrifying Martina Arduino as Aurora. TitleThe Sleeping BeautyCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate9 … [Read more...] about Review: Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala – thrilling in its eccentricity
Mattia Semperboni
Review: The Magnificent Return of Serata William Forsythe at La Scala – Blake Works V
Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel and Graham Spicer see performances of William Forsythe's Blake Works V at La Scala – a truly magnificent production. TitleBlake Works VCompanyBallet of La ScalaVenueTeatro … [Read more...] about Review: The Magnificent Return of Serata William Forsythe at La Scala – Blake Works V
Review: La Scala Ballet in Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita – a triumph for Nicoletta Manni
Graham Spicer sees Paquita at La Scala – a tribute to choreographer Pierre Lacotte, who died in 2023, but it was Nicoletta Manni's night. TitlePaquitaCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, … [Read more...] about Review: La Scala Ballet in Pierre Lacotte’s Paquita – a triumph for Nicoletta Manni
Review: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – outstanding five-star dancing
Graham Spicer sees Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – some odd dramatic choices but the company has never looked so good. TitleThe NutcrackerCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla … [Read more...] about Review: Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker at La Scala – outstanding five-star dancing
Review: La Scala dances Balanchine and Robbins – mesmerising beauty and charm
Graham Spicer sees La Scala Ballet’s triple bill with George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and Dances at a Gathering and The Concert by Jerome Robbins. TitleBalanchine and RobbinsCompanyLa Scala … [Read more...] about Review: La Scala dances Balanchine and Robbins – mesmerising beauty and charm
Two ballets by Jerome Robbins to be live-streamed from La Scala on 12 November
Works by Jerome Robbins have not been seen at La Scala since 2004, but now he is being celebrated as part of the Balanchine/Robbins Triple Bill which opened on Friday 8 November. The programme … [Read more...] about Two ballets by Jerome Robbins to be live-streamed from La Scala on 12 November
Review – La Bayadère at La Scala with Nicoletta Manni and Kimin Kim
His first entrance saut de chats provoked audible gasps, he hovered in the air for his effortless double cabrioles during the engagement celebrations of the second act, Nureyev’s eccentric solo before … [Read more...] about Review – La Bayadère at La Scala with Nicoletta Manni and Kimin Kim
Rudolf Nureyev’s Bayadère returns to La Scala with Kimin Kim guesting
Rudolf Nureyev's production of La Bayadère returns to La Scala for 10 performances from 26 May to 21 June, with Kimin Kim making a guest appearance. The company’s new étoile, Nicoletta Manni, will … [Read more...] about Rudolf Nureyev’s Bayadère returns to La Scala with Kimin Kim guesting
La Scala Ballet returns to China – on tour to Hong Kong and Shanghai
La Scala Ballet returns to China with eight performances of two ballets from 15 to 24 March La Scala Ballet will perform in China from 15 to 24 March, with Manuel Legris’s Le Corsaire at the Grand … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet returns to China – on tour to Hong Kong and Shanghai
[Review] Contemporary dance triple bill at La Scala – Simone Valastro’s spectacular Memento will not be forgotten
Graham Spicer sees La Scala's "Smith/León and Lightfoot/Valastro" contemporary dance triple bill in Milan TitleSmith/León and Lightfoot/ValastroCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, … [Read more...] about [Review] Contemporary dance triple bill at La Scala – Simone Valastro’s spectacular Memento will not be forgotten
A new triple bill of contemporary choreographers at La Scala
From 7 to 18 February, a new triple bill of contemporary choreographers at La Scala After the success of Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia La Scala Ballet changes direction abruptly with a triple bill of … [Read more...] about A new triple bill of contemporary choreographers at La Scala
[Review] Le Corsaire at La Scala – if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. How odd then, that at La Scala, the applauded version of Le Corsaire by Anna-Marie Holmes has been substituted for that by the Milanese company’s director, Manuel … [Read more...] about [Review] Le Corsaire at La Scala – if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it?
[Review] Manni and Andrijashenko lead a sparkling cast in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
Oh, what a difference a cast makes. While the perfectly competent cast reviewed here a couple of weeks ago in the revival of Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker at La Scala was satisfying if lacklustre (some … [Read more...] about [Review] Manni and Andrijashenko lead a sparkling cast in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
[Photo album] Sneak peek at tonight’s return of Nureyev’s Nutcracker in Milan
Tonight, La Scala Ballet’s season kicks off with the return of Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker, last performed in the theatre in 2006. The following photo album was of tonight’s opening cast at a … [Read more...] about [Photo album] Sneak peek at tonight’s return of Nureyev’s Nutcracker in Milan
[Review] An avalanche of debuts in Onegin at La Scala
TitleOneginCompanyLa Scala BalletVenueTeatro alla Scala, MilanDate22 and 26 September 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Photos with Nicola Del Freo and Vittoria Valerio are featured in an album … [Read more...] about [Review] An avalanche of debuts in Onegin at La Scala
[Photo Album] Onegin at La Scala with Roberto Bolle and Marianela Nuñez
Onegin returns to La Scala this evening, Wednesday 14 September, with Roberto Bolle in the title role, Marianela Nuñez as Tatiana, Nicola Del Freo as Lensky, Martina Arduino as Olga and Gabriele … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] Onegin at La Scala with Roberto Bolle and Marianela Nuñez
A refreshingly magical Giselle for a sweltering night in Milan
Have you ever given yourself a big kick up the backside for lamenting about something that others would give their eyeteeth to do? Getting ready to see the opening night of Giselle at La Scala had … [Read more...] about A refreshingly magical Giselle for a sweltering night in Milan
[Photo album] Giselle – La Scala with Nicoletta Manni, Timofej Andrijashenko, Jacopo Tissi
La Scala brought Giselle - its calling-card ballet - back to Milan (after a recent tour to Bologna) with an excellent cast featuring Nicoletta Manni as Giselle and Timofej Andrijashenko as Albrecht. … [Read more...] about [Photo album] Giselle – La Scala with Nicoletta Manni, Timofej Andrijashenko, Jacopo Tissi
Promotions at La Scala Ballet announced with Alice Mariani as new Principal Dancer
The International Competition organised by Teatro alla Scala for awarding the posts of prima ballerina, soloists, and corps de ballet has been announced. Happily, as I predicted in the current … [Read more...] about Promotions at La Scala Ballet announced with Alice Mariani as new Principal Dancer
[Photo Album] Wayne McGregor new work at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
Yesterday, 24 June 2022, was the world premiere of a Wayne McGregor work entitled LORE (to the music of Igor Stravinsky's Les Noces), arriving as a 'sequel' to his work AfteRite (to Stravinsky's Le … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] Wayne McGregor new work at La Scala: AfteRite + LORE
[Photo Album] First look at the ballet Sylvia at La Scala
The first encounter between La Scala’s ballet company and Manuel Legris, who would a year later become the company’s director, was when his production of the ballet Sylvia inaugurated the 2019-2020 … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] First look at the ballet Sylvia at La Scala
Fracci Gala: La Scala celebrates Carla Fracci
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
Gala Carla Fracci – La Scala celebrates its biggest star
On Saturday 9 April, La Scala will present a gala dedicated to Carla Fracci who died on 27 May 2021. It is the first of what will be an annual event, an initiative of La Scala Ballet’s director Manuel … [Read more...] about Gala Carla Fracci – La Scala celebrates its biggest star
20th Anniversary Gala for La Scala Academy
In 1813 the Imperial Regia Accademia di Ballo was founded, today’s Ballet School of Teatro alla Scala. It became one of the most esteemed dance training centres in the world. More recently, in … [Read more...] about 20th Anniversary Gala for La Scala Academy
Exciting debuts at La Scala: Alice Mariani and Mattia Semperboni
While theatre debuts are highly anticipated and hopefully thrilling, delusion and disappointment can arrive all too quickly after curtain up. Happily, there was nothing to disappoint in Alice … [Read more...] about Exciting debuts at La Scala: Alice Mariani and Mattia Semperboni
La Scala’s enthralling Contemporary Evening is a triumph
The Contemporary Evening was a triumph, with seven works: a contemporary ‘classic’, some lesser-known pieces, and a new creation. La Scala is finding it difficult to attract audiences back to the … [Read more...] about La Scala’s enthralling Contemporary Evening is a triumph
[Photos and review] La Scala celebrates with its Four Choreographers Evening
Wednesday 9 June was something of a celebration at La Scala with its ballet company returning to perform before a live audience. The current regulations only allow for 500 spectators but being that … [Read more...] about [Photos and review] La Scala celebrates with its Four Choreographers Evening
Ballet Gala from La Scala: Evening of Great Choreographers
The latest gala from La Scala as part of its programming for online streaming videos, and recorded without an audience present in the theatre, is Serata Grandi Coreografi (Evening of Great … [Read more...] about Ballet Gala from La Scala: Evening of Great Choreographers
Tribute to Nureyev – free ballet gala streaming from La Scala
A strong thread ties Rudolf Nureyev to La Scala, where he was acclaimed not only as a dancer but also as a choreographer. Nureyev has equally strong ties to La Scala Ballet's new director, Manuel … [Read more...] about Tribute to Nureyev – free ballet gala streaming from La Scala
La Scala UN documentary-dance gala, tonight at 6pm (CET)
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Foundation of the United Nations, Teatro alla Scala, following on the initiative of the Italian Permanent Representation to the United Nations, together … [Read more...] about La Scala UN documentary-dance gala, tonight at 6pm (CET)