After nine years away, the Tokyo Ballet returned to Milan as part of its Italian tour. The four-day stay saw two programmes with some of the company’s ‘greatest hits’. A triple bill consisted of Balanchine’s Serenade, Kylián’s Dreamtime, and Béjart’s Le Sacre du printemps; the second programme was Béjart’s The Kabuki.Serenade was beautiful to behold from the mystic, ‘Casta … [Read more...] about The magnificent Tokyo Ballet thrills at La Scala
Maurice Béjart
Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
I’m enjoying a new chapter in my life having the fortune to play women of my age and not romantic roles like the Giselles, Carmens, Juliets, Manons… all wonderful, but enough, they’re part of another Alessandra. Now I’m a 55-year-old with the knowledge of how extraordinary that is.Alessandra Ferri, now in Milan for a run of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works, created for her at The … [Read more...] about Interview with Alessandra Ferri: Maturing I find myself smiling more
The National Ballet of Canada’s first performance in Russia to be livestreamed
The National Ballet of Canada's first performance in Moscow will be livestreamed across Russia on Yandex.The free livestream will take place on 15 October 2018 from The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre in Moscow where the National Ballet will perform a mixed programme as part of Diana Vishneva’s Context festival.The free livestream is part … [Read more...] about The National Ballet of Canada’s first performance in Russia to be livestreamed
Exciting celebration of Rudolf Nureyev’s life with world ballet stars at Spoleto, tonight 28 July
2018 marks 80 years since Rudolf Nureyev was born and 25 since he died. La Scala in Milan have marked the occasion with a series of Gala celebrations and performances of his Don Quixote, Manuel Legris organised a celebration with the Vienna State Ballet, and many more tributes have been staged to doff a hat to the transfixing force of nature that was Nureyev.At 9.15pm today, … [Read more...] about Exciting celebration of Rudolf Nureyev’s life with world ballet stars at Spoleto, tonight 28 July
La Scala Ballet Season 2018-2019 announced
The new ballet season at La Scala sees seven programmes, including three pieces being presented at the theatre for the first time, including a newly commissioned work.George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker will open the season on 16 December and it will be the first time that his version has been presented in Italy. A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Jewels are already in the … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2018-2019 announced
Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
Last night a Gala to celebrate Rudolf Nureyev was had at La Scala. It is the 80th Anniversary of his birth and also 25 years after his death. The Gala was previewed by a benefit audience on Thursday, and opened Friday 25 May, with further performances on 26 and 29 May. La Scala's Étoiles Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle were joined by guests Marianela Nuñez, Germain Louvet, … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Nureyev Gala at La Scala – Zakharova, Louvet, Nuñez, Muntagirov and Bolle (and Nureyev at La Scala facts and figures)
Emerging young talent at La Scala excel in Petit, Béjart and Preljocaj
The Ballet School of La Scala’s Academy have just finished a short run of their “end of year” show. For many, it will be their last appearance as students.An effective défilé by the school (and La Scala Ballet Company) director Frédéric Olivieri set to the march from Tannhäuser was followed by Roland Petit’s Gymnopédie. The piece is extracted from his 1986 work Ma Pavlova, … [Read more...] about Emerging young talent at La Scala excel in Petit, Béjart and Preljocaj
Julien Favreau is mesmerising in Boléro at La Scala
And so Julien Favreau shows how it should be done.I find myself in Rome writing this review, and so the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day” comes to mind. Favreau has been dancing Maurice Béjart’s Boléro since 2011. His debut in the role was in Italy, in Aosta’s stunning Roman Theatre, and since he has been performing the piece regularly all over the world. Someone new to the … [Read more...] about Julien Favreau is mesmerising in Boléro at La Scala
Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&AWhen did you start dancing? When I was about 7, in a very small ballet school in France where we were only 4 boys!Why did you start dancing? Maybe because my uncle was a DJ and I wanted to learn how to dance to go to the club Which dancer inspired you most as a child? I was not so interested by ballet as a child, but Patrick Dupont was a star at this time.Which … [Read more...] about Julien Favreau answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala with Roberto Bolle and others debuting on the red table
Maurice Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala in March, with Roberto Bolle dancing the La Mélodie for the first time. The 15-minute work was last seen in the theatre in 2003 when Sylvie Guillem danced the central role.Béjart Ballet Lausanne’s ‘experts’ Elisabet Ros and Julien Favreau will be featured too, as well as three young dancers from La Scala’s company: Martina Arduino, … [Read more...] about Béjart’s Boléro returns to La Scala with Roberto Bolle and others debuting on the red table