Gramilano happens to be a neighbour of Armando Ariostini, the baritone who works tirelessly for Casa Verdi, the retirement home for musicians, here in Milan. The coronavirus has kept us all in our homes, and Armando away from his beloved Casa Verdi, which is only a stone's throw away, but at this time it could just as well be in Sicily. To keep spirits up, Italians have been … [Read more...] about Opera singers against the coronavirus – how one singer is lifting spirits in Milan
Milano
Milan Expo 2015 – The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Palazzo Reale
The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Palazzo Reale in Milan – opening last week to coincide with the beginning of the Milan Expo on 1 May – is not to be missed, even if the show misses some opportunities itself. Unfortunately pipped to the post by London’s Leonardo exhibition just three years ago, which actually focused in his two-decade stay in Milan, the curators … [Read more...] about Milan Expo 2015 – The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Palazzo Reale
Carla Fracci for Expo 2015: Milan, Capital of the World
The Milanese ballerina, Carla Fracci, has become an Ambassador for the Milan Expo 2015. The theme of the World Expo is Feed the planet, Energy for Life and in the clip below she talks about her love for her childhood dishes of Risotto alla Milanese (with a short-grained rice, such as Carnaroli , saffron and beef marrow) and Polenta (a maize flour, or cornmeal, … [Read more...] about Carla Fracci for Expo 2015: Milan, Capital of the World
Maria Callas’ costume for Macbeth at La Scala in 1952 in photos
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 the theatre dressed in the same costume now sitting on a mannequin. Milan's Teatro alla Scala preserves these costumes, and those of many other legendary opera singers, with … [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
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 come back, and Callas, Pavarotti, Verrett, Caballé and many others have all been on the receiving end. Being booed by the loggionisti at Milan's Teatro alla Scala can be thought of … [Read more...] about Opera singer Rosalind Plowright comments on booing Bartoli at La Scala
Adelina Patti in a splendid portrait now on show in Milan
Giuseppe Verdi on Adelina Patti, one of the great coloratura singers of the 19th century: When I heard her for the first time (she was eighteen) in London, I was astounded not only by the marvellous performance but also by a number of stage traits that revealed her great acting talents. Such was the fame and bravura of Dame Adelina Patti that in the 19th Century she was … [Read more...] about Adelina Patti in a splendid portrait now on show in Milan
Adelina Patti: Her voice was a technical marvel
Italian voice expert Rodolfo Celletti said of Adelina Patti: Her voice was a technical marvel. The staccatos were marvels of accuracy, even in the trickiest intervals, her legato was impressively smooth and pure; she connects the voice from note to note, phrase to phrase, lifting and gliding with an exceptional virtuosity. Her chromatic scale was deliciously sweet, and … [Read more...] about Adelina Patti: Her voice was a technical marvel
Stéphane Lissner to leave La Scala for the Paris Opera in 2015
After the rumours and denials of recent days, Aurélie Filippetti, the French Minister of Culture, has confirmed that Stéphane Lissner will take over from Nicolas Joel when the latter leaves the helm of the Paris Opera in 2015. Lissner's very lucrative contract as Sovrintendente of Milan's Teatro alla Scala was due to expire in 2017. However recently his programming has been … [Read more...] about Stéphane Lissner to leave La Scala for the Paris Opera in 2015
A singer on stage using an iPhone? It happened last night at La Scala!
René Pape has a has dour personality. A smile consists of lifting the edges of the mouth by a millimetre, and he rarely looks up to engage with the audience perched up in the gods. But Pape sure knows how to sing. He manages to fold his enormous voice down to produce the smallest whispers of sound, he uses a true mezza-voce without going into falsetto, has an enormous range … [Read more...] about A singer on stage using an iPhone? It happened last night at La Scala!
Debutto a Milano di “Priscilla, la regina del deserto”
by Stefania Clerici “True colors are beautiful, like a rainbow” cantava Cyndi Lauper negli anni ’80…E veri, spettacolari e coloratissimi sono le scene, le luci, i costumi e la colonna sonora del musical “Priscilla, la regina del deserto”, andato in scena per la prima volta in Italia mercoledì 14 dicembre, presso il Teatro Ciak Webank di Milano (ribattezzato per l'occasione … [Read more...] about Debutto a Milano di “Priscilla, la regina del deserto”
