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Piccolo Teatro

Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91

2 February 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ezio Frigerio with his set for Otello, 7 dicembre 2001, photo by Andrea Tamoni

Ezio Frigerio has died at the age of 91. He made theatre history alongside Giorgio Strehler, Rudolf Nureyev, Eduardo De Filippo, and Vittorio De Sica. He leaves his wife and frequent collaborator, the … [Read more...] about Ezio Frigerio, the great theatre designer, dies at 91

Italian singer Milva has died at 81 – a career from pop to Berio

24 April 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

1989 concert with Zoltan Peskó, photo by Lelli e Masotti © Teatro alla Scala-crop

Yesterday, Italy lost one of its greatest singers of popular music, Milva, a singer who interpreted Brecht (working with Giorgio Strehler at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro), collaborated many times with Astor … [Read more...] about Italian singer Milva has died at 81 – a career from pop to Berio

Riccardo Chailly and Irina Brook bring Brecht and Weill back to La Scala

15 March 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lindsey Kate, photo by Rosetta Greek

On March 18 at 8 pm CET, Riccardo Chailly conducts Die sieben Tosdsünden ("The Seven Deadly Sins") and Mahagonny Songspiel in a live-streamed performance from La Scala. The Kurt Weill double bill … [Read more...] about Riccardo Chailly and Irina Brook bring Brecht and Weill back to La Scala

Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci

1 October 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

La sonnambula, Tosi e Callas, 1957 Foto Piccagliani

Vittoria Crespi Morbio, the writer of an exceptional collection of books produced by the Amici della Scala, has written monographs on important artists who have collaborated with Teatro alla Scala – … [Read more...] about Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci

Ferruccio Soleri – After 60 years and 2,283 performances, Italy’s Arlecchino bows out

9 June 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ferruccio Soleri, the last Arlecchino, May 2018   05

On 13 May, a very important actor took his final bow. Goldoni’s Harlequin, servant to two masters, known in Italy as simply Arlecchino, has seen Ferruccio Soleri in the leading role since 1959. Now, … [Read more...] about Ferruccio Soleri – After 60 years and 2,283 performances, Italy’s Arlecchino bows out

Love Hurts – creating a new opera. Nicola Moro and Lisa Hilton’s take on De Sade and Gilles de Rais

20 June 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

On Saturday 25 June in Milan a new opera will get its world premiere at Milan’s prestigious Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato. Love Hurts is written by Italian composer Nicola Moro with a libretto by Lisa … [Read more...] about Love Hurts – creating a new opera. Nicola Moro and Lisa Hilton’s take on De Sade and Gilles de Rais

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

Rothko in Rome: an interview with Carolyn Carlson

17 June 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

"It’s very difficult to tour now in Italy with its money problems," Carolyn Carlson tells me, which makes producer Daniele Cipriani a brave man indeed: he is bringing her new piece Dialogue with … [Read more...] about Rothko in Rome: an interview with Carolyn Carlson

Milan celebrates one of its most-loved actresses as she turns 80

2 April 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Giulia Lazzarini, one of Giorgio Strehler's favourite actress, and for decades a constant presence on the stage of Milan's famed Piccolo Teatro, is 80 and, rightly, it was at the Piccolo Teatro that … [Read more...] about Milan celebrates one of its most-loved actresses as she turns 80

Valentina Cortese becomes a Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres

27 November 2013 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Italian actress Valentina Cortese was awarded France's highest honour in recognition of her contribution to the arts, the Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, during a ceremony on … [Read more...] about Valentina Cortese becomes a Commandeur dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Actress Valentina Cortese radiant in haute couture at 90

17 September 2013 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Great Italian actress Valentina Cortese turned 90 this year. Style has always been part of her life (she is the sort of actress who is theatrical offstage as well as on) and the diva quality in her … [Read more...] about Actress Valentina Cortese radiant in haute couture at 90

Aterballetto’s Romeo and Juliet in Milan: contemporary dance at its highest level

19 May 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Romeo and Juliet by Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti was created for his company Aterballetto in 2006, and has received international acclaim ever since. But what a strange bird it is. Exotic … [Read more...] about Aterballetto’s Romeo and Juliet in Milan: contemporary dance at its highest level

Aterballetto embarks on a mini dance festival at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro

15 May 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Aterballetto and its choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti come to Milan's Piccolo Teatro for more than 2 weeks with a mini Festival of their repertory. Kicking off will be the Romeo and Juliet on May 17. It … [Read more...] about Aterballetto embarks on a mini dance festival at Milan’s Piccolo Teatro

Marie-Agnès Gillot in Milan for Pippo Delbono’s “After The Battle”

14 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

This is how The New York Times introduced Delbono to its readership in an interview last year: Part theater, part dance, part carnival, part music, the works of Pippo Delbono are hard to … [Read more...] about Marie-Agnès Gillot in Milan for Pippo Delbono’s “After The Battle”

Ornella Vanoni wows the Milanese audience at the MITO Festival

6 September 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

"Le canzoni della Mala" are songs about the Milanese underworld, most of which originated in the 50s when the great Italian theatre director Giorgio Strehler realised that Milan lacked a tradition of … [Read more...] about Ornella Vanoni wows the Milanese audience at the MITO Festival

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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

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

Dutch National Ballet’s Marijn Rademaker on injury and recovery

franco fagioli © thibault stipal, 2014

Franco Fagioli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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

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In conversation with Marianela Nuñez

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

Thomas Hampson by Jiyang Chen

Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

The Tricks of the Trocks: powder, ice and pointe shoes

How to stage a ballet… Maina Gielgud explains

Dance injuries from the ballet dancer’s point of view: top stars share their experiences

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

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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