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Mirella Freni

[Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs

15 August 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Luciano Pavarotti Recital 1988

Cristina Pavarotti, 58, is Luciano Pavarotti’s second child, and will be in Los Angeles on 24 August for the positioning her father’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the accompanying … [Read more...] about [Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs

La Scala remembers Teresa Berganza: 1933-2022

13 May 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

L'italiana in Algeri 7 December 1973, photo by Erio Piccagliani © Teatro alla Scala crop

Few artists in the history of singing have served music with the elegance, freshness, and sense of style of Teresa Berganza, who died today in Madrid where she was born in 1933. For the entire … [Read more...] about La Scala remembers Teresa Berganza: 1933-2022

In Memoriam 2020: Singers, Dancers, Actors, Writers, Directors

31 December 2020 by Gramilano 5 Comments

In-memoriam-2020-2

A subjective list of artists the world has lost in 2020. Olivia de Havilland1916-2020Actor"To Each His Own, The Heiress, Gone with the Wind and so many others. A two-time Best Actress Oscar winner, … [Read more...] about In Memoriam 2020: Singers, Dancers, Actors, Writers, Directors

La Scala records the last artists for tonight’s opening gala

7 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Placido Domingo photo by Rudy Amisano, December 2020

Yesterday Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak and Lisette Oropesa recorded their sections of tonight's opening gala at La Scala (5pm CET) and today Camilla Nylund, Andreas Schager, Francesco Meli and … [Read more...] about La Scala records the last artists for tonight’s opening gala

Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season

30 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mirella Freni as Adriana Lecouvreur in 1989, photo by Lelli e Masotti © Teatro alla Scala-sm

There will not be 24, but now 25 voices in La Scala’s gala to open its 2020-2021 season A riveder le stelle (Seeing the Stars Again). On 7 December, the video introducing the evening will feature the … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season

Katia Ricciarelli at 74 returns to the opera stage and talks about being a diva

1 March 2020 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Katia Ricciarelli, Rai TV, 2019

At 74, after many years away from the stage, and often from singing (the wear and tear on her voice means that even singing a popular song on TV can lead to surprising results), Katia Ricciarelli … [Read more...] about Katia Ricciarelli at 74 returns to the opera stage and talks about being a diva

Photo Album: Mirella Freni at La Scala

10 February 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mirella Freni in La bohème in 1963 photo by Piccagliani crop

Mirella Freni sang at La Scala from 1962 until 1996 (an account of those years, with comments by Mirella Freni, is here). La Scala issued a statement, which reads: The news of Mirella Freni’s … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Mirella Freni at La Scala

Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure

24 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Rolando Panerai in 1975 in La bohème, photo by Erio Piccagliani

With Rolando Panerai we lose a star of opera that we will not see the like of again, and many of his performances have shaped the history of La Scala’s opera house. La Scala left these words today, … [Read more...] about Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure

Hui He answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

9 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Hui He at the close of a concert

When did you start singing? I always loved to sing since I was a child. I sang on every occasion, also during public events at school, where my maths teacher heard me and advised me to take singing … [Read more...] about Hui He answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Tenor Marcello Giordani has died at 56

5 October 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marcello Giordani

Tenor Marcello Giordani died this afternoon following a heart attack – he was 56 years old. He was at his home in Augusta in the Province of Syracuse when at about 3 pm, after lunch, he felt unwell, … [Read more...] about Tenor Marcello Giordani has died at 56

Krassimira Stoyanova’s commanding recital at La Scala

3 April 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Krassimira Stoyanova by Brescia e Amisano

Krassimira Stoyanova opened her mouth to sing and the most extraordinarily rounded, warm, yet potent sound filled La Scala's auditorium. She has a rare technique which recalls the grandeur of singers … [Read more...] about Krassimira Stoyanova’s commanding recital at La Scala

Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives

6 September 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Recital in 1983

Luciano Pavarotti died ten years ago today, on 6 September 2007. Teatro alla Scala continually welcomed the great tenor to its stage for almost three decades, from 1965 until 1992. At the Milanese … [Read more...] about Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives

Leontyne Price is 90 – best wishes and photographic memories from La Scala

10 February 2017 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Leontyne Price in front of La Scala when she made her house debut in 1960

On this day, 10 February 1927, Leontyne Price was born in Laurel, Mississipi. To celebrate her 90th birthday, La Scala joins companies, colleagues and fans the world over in wishing her a happy … [Read more...] about Leontyne Price is 90 – best wishes and photographic memories from La Scala

Joyce DiDonato joins opera singers from 70 years of Desert Island Discs

20 September 2016 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

As a committed fan of BBC 4's Desert Island Discs, I am delighted that Joyce DiDonato will be revealing her list of eight recordings, a book and a luxury item that she would take if she was to be cast … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato joins opera singers from 70 years of Desert Island Discs

Puccini’s granddaughter against Riccardo Chailly’s booed Madama Butterfly

5 June 2016 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Riccardo Chailly’s ‘Puccini Project’ at La Scala will continue with a new production of Madama Butterfly to open the 2016-2017 Season. The opera was written for La Scala in February 1904 and was … [Read more...] about Puccini’s granddaughter against Riccardo Chailly’s booed Madama Butterfly

Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

6 October 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A   in italiano When did you start dancing? In a gym near our house when I was seven-years-old. Why did you start dancing? It was something my mother wanted me to do, and she took … [Read more...] about Pompea Santoro answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

The perfect Bohème at La Scala… magisterial, stunning!

22 August 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

La Scala’s La bohème has been a constant presence in the theatre’s programming after more than half a century and now edges towards its 240th performance. The 1963 production by Franco Zeffirelli is … [Read more...] about The perfect Bohème at La Scala… magisterial, stunning!

Overwhelming applause for Gruberova and her queens at La Scala

27 July 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

You shouldn't reveal a lady’s age, they say, but how can I not say that Edita Gruberova is 68 years-old when she took on the final scenes from three of Donizetti’s most demanding operas in one … [Read more...] about Overwhelming applause for Gruberova and her queens at La Scala

Coin du Roi’s Serse is musically on the right track

11 June 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

In a climate of crises and cuts, how glorious that a Baroque formation has been created in Italy. Coin du Roi opened their first season, which consists of three titles, with Handel’s Serse in Milan. … [Read more...] about Coin du Roi’s Serse is musically on the right track

La Scala pays tribute to Fiorenza Cossotto

10 May 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Yesterday, La Scala celebrated Fiorenza Cossotto’s 80th birthday with a conference in the Toscanini Foyer. Joining her were Sabino Lenoci and Giancarlo Landini from L’Opera Magazine. The idea of … [Read more...] about La Scala pays tribute to Fiorenza Cossotto

Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video

27 February 2015 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Mirella Freni is eighty, and to celebrate her birthday La Scala threw open its doors to her fans and opera lovers to see the great soprano once again on the stage that was hers for so many years. A … [Read more...] about Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video

Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

22 February 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Italian director Luca Ronconi died yesterday evening in the Policlinico in Milan after a short illness. His health had been poor over the last years, he was on dialysis, and was complicated by … [Read more...] about Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

Italian bass Ivo Vinco dies at 86

9 June 2014 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Ivo Vinco: born Bosco Chies­anuova, Ver­ona, 8 Novem­ber 1927; died Ver­ona, 8 June 2014 Italian bass Ivo Vinco died yesterday at the age of 86 in Verona, just thirty kilometres from where he was … [Read more...] about Italian bass Ivo Vinco dies at 86

Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84

4 March 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Renato Cioni, the great Tuscan tenor, died today in his home town of Portoferraio, on the island of Elba, where he was born almost 85 years ago. His career took off in the mid 1950s when  he sang … [Read more...] about Callas and Sutherland’s tenor – Renato Cioni – dies at 84

Mark S Doss answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

21 March 2013 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start singing?  I was in the 5th grade when the music teacher, Mrs Mapson, asked me to sing the Wells Fargo Wagon song from Music Man. She heard me sing it back to her and then … [Read more...] about Mark S Doss answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Vittorio Grigolo talks about his voice, his art, his country… and motorbikes

28 August 2011 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Vittorio Grigolo, already saddled with the label "the new Pavarotti", gave a long interview to the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera's Style Magazine. He talked about his love of motorbikes, … [Read more...] about Vittorio Grigolo talks about his voice, his art, his country… and motorbikes

Italian theatre designer Luisa Spinatelli is honoured at La Scala

17 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Last night in the glamorous foyer of the La Scala Theatre (Ridotto dei Palchi 'Arturo Toscanini') the Amici della Scala awarded an Honorary Membership of the society to Italian theatre designer Luisa … [Read more...] about Italian theatre designer Luisa Spinatelli is honoured 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

FEATURED POSTS

Luca Pisaroni as Leporello in Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne   photo by Bill Cooper

In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut

Yasmine Naghdi in rehearsal for Tarantella, The Royal Ballet © 2017 ROH. Photograph by Bill Cooper

[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi: a time to reflect

Grand Pas Classique at English National Ballet, photo by Laurent Liotardo

Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky

Lawrence Brownlee & Michael Spyres crop

[Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album

Maurice Béjart's Gaîté parisienne with Marijn Rademaker photo by Stuttgarter Ballet

Dutch National Ballet’s Marijn Rademaker on injury and recovery

Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov in cover art for the Romanza album

Interview with Anna Netrebko on her son, his autism and his abandonment by his father Erwin Schrott

Jakub Józef Orliński

In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński

Nunez headshot cropped

In conversation with Marianela Nuñez

Renata Scotto with Maria Callas

Renata Scotto vs Maria Callas – the 1970 fight at La Scala

António Casalinho, photo by Nikita Alba crop

António Casalinho – Introducing the 17-year-old Portuguese Dancer

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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