Soprano Carmen Giannattasio has been in demand since she was thrust before the public eye when she won both the First Prize and the Audience Award at Placido Domingo’s Operalia in Paris in 2002. She took on one of the most challenging soprano roles soon after, singing Violetta La Traviata. Reviewing a 2007 performance at Scottish Opera, Rupert Christiansen wrote in the Daily … [Read more...]
Designer Luisa Spinatelli’s Le Corsaire team fêted in Milan
The Amici della Scala association (Friends of La Scala) are always ready to celebrate: maybe it's a question and answer session with Antonio Pappano, a talk by Placido Domingo, a presentation of one of the association's newly published books (they have an extensive collection) - whatever, evenings always finish with an upheld glass and the cutting of a cake. The occasion this … [Read more...]
Interview with Angela Gheorghiu on Draculina, Kaufmann, capriciousness and corruption
The autobiography of outspoken soprano Angela Gheorghiu — Angela Gheorghiu: A Life for Art — comes out in October. Her candidness will obviously make for fascinating reading. In an interview with the Corriere della sera she was as unbuttoned as ever. If I am the black sheep of my profession because I have my own opinions and I react to unkindness. The Romanian soprano has a … [Read more...]
Riccardo Frizza answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition
Q&A When did you start playing an instrument? I was five years old. Why did you start playing? Because I was given a little piano in my house. Which musician inspired you most when you were young? Lenny Bernstein. Which musicians (instrumentalists or singers) do you most admire? Joshua Bell and Placido Domingo. What’s your favourite piece to conduct? Every place … [Read more...]
Bolle’s Boléro: Roberto Bolle at La Scala performs Béjart’s intoxicating rite for the first time
I certainly wasn’t the only one to have doubts when Roberto Bolle announced his intention to climb onto Béjart’s red table. Facebook was abuzz with comments from puzzled ballet fans who couldn’t see him as La Mélodie. Even now, after his run of performances of Boléro, many hold on to that view. How delighted I was to be proved wrong (not that I had voiced my doubts, I may add) … [Read more...]