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Milan

Milan’s €120 million project to bring all La Scala’s laboratories to one site

31 October 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Palazzo di cristallo - photo Comune di Milano crop

La Scala’s on-stage productions are the tip of the iceberg of the enormous ‘behind the scenes’ forces in the laboratories where sets, costumes and props are created. The company’s laboratories have … [Read more...] about Milan’s €120 million project to bring all La Scala’s laboratories to one site

Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo dies in Milan at 90

13 October 2016 by Gramilano 4 Comments

The Nobel Prize winning writer, actor, painter, composer and director died this morning in Milan at the age of 90. He was born on 24 March 1926 in San Giano, a small town on Lago Maggiore in Lombardy … [Read more...] about Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo dies in Milan at 90

La Scala gets a Google Doodle

3 August 2016 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Though no special anniversary, Google users in Italy today are seeing a Google Doodle to commemorate the "238th Anniversary of the inauguration of Teatro Alla Scala". Inside the second 'O' is a view … [Read more...] about La Scala gets a Google Doodle

Announcing “Coin du Roi”, Italy’s first Baroque opera company

19 May 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

As John Wayne said, "Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway". Who in their right mind, you may ask, would form a new opera company when Italy is juggling to balance its books and … [Read more...] about Announcing “Coin du Roi”, Italy’s first Baroque opera company

Three Leonardo da Vinci paintings on loan from the Louvre for the Milan Expo 2015

17 September 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Louvre in Paris has given the ok for three of its Leonardo da Vinci paintings to travel to Milan for the ambitious exhibition of the painter's works to coincide with the Milan Expo in … [Read more...] about Three Leonardo da Vinci paintings on loan from the Louvre for the Milan Expo 2015

The special woman in Roberto Bolle’s life comes forward

22 December 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mariuccia is a very special person in Roberto Bolle’s life, but is seldom seen or talked about. The paparazzi don't photograph her, and she doesn't give interviews about her relationship with Italy’s … [Read more...] about The special woman in Roberto Bolle’s life comes forward

Lissner, Pereira, Barenboim, Chailly and sponsors: complications at La Scala

29 October 2013 by Gramilano 1 Comment

La Scala sovrintendente Stephane Lissner, on announcing that Daniel Barenboim will leave his post as musical director from 1 January 2015 - two years before the end of his contract - said that it will … [Read more...] about Lissner, Pereira, Barenboim, Chailly and sponsors: complications at La Scala

Riccardo Chailly is La Scala’s next musical director

17 October 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Good news for the La Scala public: Riccardo Chailly will be the next musical director after Daniel Barenboim. He is a conductor whom singers love, and he loves singers, not afraid to 'accompany' when … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly is La Scala’s next musical director

André Previn, at 84, makes his La Scala début

1 October 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The cliché "better late than never" is the same in Italian - "meglio tardi che mai" - and is certainly adapt for the renowned octogenarian conductor, pianist and composer André Previn, who will make … [Read more...] about André Previn, at 84, makes his La Scala début

Roberto Bolle: dancers need a perfect body, a great face, and passion

26 August 2013 by Gramilano 11 Comments

roberto bolle fashionisto

For the autumn/fall issue of Fashionisto, Roberto Bolle has been photographed by Brent Chua for a fashion shoot wearing Prada, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana. Bolle is a Principal with the American … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle: dancers need a perfect body, a great face, and passion

Great emotion at ballet doctor’s funeral

3 August 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

At 10am hundreds of friends, colleagues, and neighbours, including many dancers and doctors, gathered in the sweltering heat to say their goodbyes to Walter Albisetti, a much loved figure who died … [Read more...] about Great emotion at ballet doctor’s funeral

La Scala’s orthopaedist, Walter Albisetti, is killed by an electric saw at 56

31 July 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Walter Albisetti, Milan's most well-known and respected orthopaedist, has died at 56. He was a specialist in treating dancers and most of the ballet company at La Scala had passed through his … [Read more...] about La Scala’s orthopaedist, Walter Albisetti, is killed by an electric saw at 56

Joyce DiDonato’s recital interrupted by a call from Rossini

10 June 2013 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Joyce DiDonato well and truly conquered La Scala's audience during her recital last night. She was greeted by an ovation that took her aback - the sort of applause reserved for a Marilyn Horne or … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato’s recital interrupted by a call from Rossini

Pereira to head La Scala: career and love come together in Milan

5 June 2013 by Gramilano 1 Comment

October 2015 marks the start of Alexander Pereira's reign as sovrintendente of one of the world's greatest theatres, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Yesterday the city's mayor, Giuliano Pisapia, … [Read more...] about Pereira to head La Scala: career and love come together in Milan

Kaufmann’s cancellation: curse or conspiracy?

3 June 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Curse of La Scala strikes again? As already noted in this blog, the recital series at Milan's Teatro alla Scala has suffered from a great number of cancellations and postponements during the … [Read more...] about Kaufmann’s cancellation: curse or conspiracy?

World premiere of a piece by Giuseppe Verdi

29 May 2013 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Tomorrow evening there will be a world premiere of a piece by Giuseppe Verdi, in his 200th Anniversary year. Flautist Claudio Ferrarini was rummaging through the library in Verdi's home Villa di … [Read more...] about World premiere of a piece by Giuseppe Verdi

Franca Rame, actress, playwright and wife of Dario Fo, dies at 84

29 May 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Franca Rame has died in Milan at 84. She was an Italian theatre actress with a talent for comedy, playwright and an outspoken political activist. She was married to Nobel laureate playwright Dario … [Read more...] about Franca Rame, actress, playwright and wife of Dario Fo, dies at 84

Claudio Coviello is promoted to primo ballerino at La Scala

5 May 2013 by Gramilano 5 Comments

21-year-old Claudio Coviello, who famously stepped in at the last minute to replace Ivan Vasiliev, has been named primo ballerino (principal) after yesterday's performance as Albrecht in … [Read more...] about Claudio Coviello is promoted to primo ballerino at La Scala

Carla Fracci at the La Scala Theatre Ballet School celebrations

29 April 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The La Scala Theatre Ballet School was formed 200 years ago, and its students are celebrating with a week of shows at Milan's Teatro Strehler. At last night's opening performance Carla Fracci, maybe … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci at the La Scala Theatre Ballet School celebrations

The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out

28 April 2013 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Ok, the headline is a bit over the top, but the vocal recitals at La Scala have been having a spot of bad luck recently, especially seeing that there are only seven recitals each season. Just over … [Read more...] about The curse of the La Scala recital series? Barenboim bows out

Walter Venditti: the 84-year-old ballet teacher who keeps Milan on its toes

22 April 2013 by Gramilano 9 Comments

Milan is the sort of city which empties as soon as holidays arrive, and in Italy there are lots of holidays. The schools are shut and so are private dancing schools... except for that of Walter … [Read more...] about Walter Venditti: the 84-year-old ballet teacher who keeps Milan on its toes

Police helicopters circle overhead as Cecilia Bartoli returns to Rome

9 April 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Bartoli fans battled their way to Renzo Piano's glorious Auditorium Parco della Musica through security cordons, with police helicopters circling overhead. These precautions were not for the Roman … [Read more...] about Police helicopters circle overhead as Cecilia Bartoli returns to Rome

Ivan Vasiliev drives Milan wild in his La Scala début

6 March 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ivan Vasiliev's scheduled début with the ballet company at Milan's La Scala, and also in the role of Quasimodo in Roland Petit's ballet Notre-Dame de Paris, was delayed from Saturday due to a last … [Read more...] about Ivan Vasiliev drives Milan wild in his La Scala début

Triumph in Milan for Natalia Osipova and Roberto Bolle in Notre-Dame de Paris

17 February 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The main curiosity surrounding the return to La Scala of Roland Petit's ballet Notre-Dame de Paris was how cover-boy-ballerino Roberto Bolle could handle the role of the hunchback Quasimodo; as he … [Read more...] about Triumph in Milan for Natalia Osipova and Roberto Bolle in Notre-Dame de Paris

A new Mama Rose gets her turn in Italy’s first ever ‘Gypsy’

11 January 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

On 15 January, Milan will welcome a new Rose to the stage as Gyspy opens in Italy. Loretta Goggi has been a household name in Italy for half a century. She made her début in television as a girl … [Read more...] about A new Mama Rose gets her turn in Italy’s first ever ‘Gypsy’

With boos among the light applause, Sasha Waltz’s Roméo et Juliette finally opens in Milan

29 December 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

After changes of cast, threatened strikes, exorbitant economic demands from chorus and dancers, and a cancelled first night, Sasha Waltz's ballet Roméo et Juliette finally opened yesterday in … [Read more...] about With boos among the light applause, Sasha Waltz’s Roméo et Juliette finally opens in Milan

Sylvano Bussotti: flamboyant composer, poet, set and costume designer, theatre director, and… and… and…

27 December 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Silvano Bussotti, known as Sylvano, is an Italian eccentric, some say genius, and the word 'flamboyant' appears in many articles about this modern Renaissance man. He is a composer, poet, set and … [Read more...] about Sylvano Bussotti: flamboyant composer, poet, set and costume designer, theatre director, and… and… and…

Roberto Bolle lays himself bare in Vanity Fair: it’s difficult to say “I love you”

21 December 2012 by Gramilano 4 Comments

  In a revealing interview with the Italian Vanity Fair, Roberto Bolle opens up, and reveals parts of his psyche that he usually prefers to keep hidden in interviews. Luca Dini was asking … [Read more...] about Roberto Bolle lays himself bare in Vanity Fair: it’s difficult to say “I love you”

Maria Callas’ costume for Macbeth at La Scala in 1952 in photos

16 December 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Maria Callas' costumes evoke a special frisson of excitement: knowing that she was wearing it when she sang a role so loved from a recording, and, for a few, having actually seen her 60 years ago in … [Read more...] about Maria Callas’ costume for Macbeth at La Scala in 1952 in photos

Opera singer Rosalind Plowright comments on booing Bartoli at La Scala

9 December 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Renée Fleming described it as the worst night of her operatic life, after Celeste Aida Roberto Alagna gave a military salute and walked off stage, Katia Ricciarelli quit the opera house refusing to … [Read more...] about Opera singer Rosalind Plowright comments on booing Bartoli at La Scala

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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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Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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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