In August 1943, Milan was bombed by Allied planes. On the night between 15 and 16 August the city centre and the Teatro alla Scala were seriously damaged. A photographic exhibition, La Scala Reborn … [Read more...] about Milan celebrates 80th Anniversary of La Scala’s reopening after devastating World War II bombing
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La Scala closed 2025 with record ticket sales of over €40 million
La Scala closed 2025 with record ticket sales of over €40 million (+7.3% compared to 2024). Added to this is the record revenue of the La Scala Theatre Museum, which reached €3.4 million. “From the … [Read more...] about La Scala closed 2025 with record ticket sales of over €40 million
Celebrated organist Gail Archer announces 2025 Ukrainian Relief Tour
American organist, music director, choral conductor and academic, Gail Archer, will tour a Concert for Ukrainian Relief from February until May 2025. One of the world’s leading female organists, … [Read more...] about Celebrated organist Gail Archer announces 2025 Ukrainian Relief Tour
Interview: Tenor Luciano Ganci on La forza del destino at La Scala
On 2 January, Luciano Ganci ends his run of five performances as Don Alvaro in La forza del destino, the opening opera of the season at Teatro alla Scala. His Leonora so far has been Anna Netrebko, … [Read more...] about Interview: Tenor Luciano Ganci on La forza del destino at La Scala
Interview: Jakub Józef Orliński – freedom of movement
Five years ago, in 2019, I interviewed the countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński ahead of his Glyndebourne debut. The interview was not about his singing for an opera magazine, but about his dancing for … [Read more...] about Interview: Jakub Józef Orliński – freedom of movement
Review: Les Étoiles gala in Milan – 21 dancers, 17 pieces, 3 hours of starry dance
Writing about ballet galas is always a challenge and a review can easily turn into a shopping list... he did this, then they did that. The latest Les Étoiles gala from Daniele Cipriani was certainly … [Read more...] about Review: Les Étoiles gala in Milan – 21 dancers, 17 pieces, 3 hours of starry dance
La Scala revamps its opera subtitles with 8-language interactive tablets
When La Scala reopens its doors tomorrow after the summer closure the audience will find tablets fitted in front of their seat. This means behind the seat in front, in most cases. It is part of a … [Read more...] about La Scala revamps its opera subtitles with 8-language interactive tablets
Review: Hopper Variations – a contemporary dance ‘saggio’ at Milan’s Teatro Paolo Grassi School
Graham Spicer sees Emanuela Tagliavia's Hopper Variations at the Teatro Paolo Grassi School in Milan Well, I’ve been to a lot of ‘saggi’ in Italy, from Ischia to Bolzano. ‘Saggio’, in Italian, can … [Read more...] about Review: Hopper Variations – a contemporary dance ‘saggio’ at Milan’s Teatro Paolo Grassi School
Maria Callas at 100 – Milan mounts 2 months of events to celebrate
From 1 November to 31 December 2023, Milan will dedicate a programme of events for Callas 100, to mark the centenary of the great soprano's birth on 2 December. Maria Callas (1923 - 1977) during … [Read more...] about Maria Callas at 100 – Milan mounts 2 months of events to celebrate
Milan’s €120 million project to bring all La Scala’s laboratories to one site
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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 last … [Read more...] about Kaufmann’s cancellation: curse or conspiracy?
World premiere of a piece by Giuseppe Verdi
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
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
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
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
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 a … [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
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