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Placido Domingo

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

La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December

25 November 2020 by Gramilano 7 Comments

La Scala 7 December 2020

Despite coronavirus restrictions, La Scala will celebrate the opening of its season 2020-2021 – however long or short it may be – on 7 December, the feast of Saint Ambrose, Milan’s saint’s day. The … [Read more...] about La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December

Plácido Domingo cancels Italian dates for health problems

11 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Placido-Domingo-photo-by-Pedro-Walker

Plácido Domingo has cancelled his Italian commitments in November due to a health problem that has arisen in the last few hours. The unnamed problem prohibits him from travelling and working, … [Read more...] about Plácido Domingo cancels Italian dates for health problems

Countertenor David Daniels’ final fall from grace

28 March 2020 by Gramilano 3 Comments

David Daniels by Simon Pauly

In his final fall from grace, American countertenor David Daniels has been fired by the University of Michigan without severance pay. He joined his alma mater in 2015 as Professor of Music in … [Read more...] about Countertenor David Daniels’ final fall from grace

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

Mirella Freni dies at 84

9 February 2020 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Mirella Freni, who would have been 85 on 27 February, has died at her home in Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. She had been fighting an illness for a long while and died … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni dies at 84

Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88

7 February 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Santi Nello crop

The conductor Nello Santi has died at 88. He last worked at La Scala in November 2017, when he was 86, conducting Nabucco. He was born in 1931 in Adria in the Veneto region. He was the director of … [Read more...] about Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88

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

La Scala mourns the death of a tenor with a minute’s silence and moving trumpet solo

8 July 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Bellanca Giuseppe

Before the final performance of I masnadieri at La Scala yesterday evening, the curtain rose on a crowded set with the chorus, soloists, technicians and other backstage theatre workers, together with … [Read more...] about La Scala mourns the death of a tenor with a minute’s silence and moving trumpet solo

La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020

27 May 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Teatro alla Scala 01

After Riccardo Chailly opens the season with Tosca, continuing the cycle of works by Puccini, he will conduct his first Strauss opera, as well as the complete Beethoven symphonies. Zubin Mehta will … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020

Interview: Angel Blue at La Scala “It will never happen… not a black Violetta.”

18 March 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

La traviata, Teatro alla Scala, 2019 4

When she was twenty, Angel Blue’s singing teacher told her, “I’m sorry, but it will never happen. There will never be a black Violetta.” Now she’s at La Scala singing that very role. It’s not the … [Read more...] about Interview: Angel Blue at La Scala “It will never happen… not a black Violetta.”

Interview: Carmen Giannattasio on her first Tosca, Lady Gaga, and homicide

26 October 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Carmen Giannattasio In The War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, Photo By Cory Weaver

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 … [Read more...] about Interview: Carmen Giannattasio on her first Tosca, Lady Gaga, and homicide

Designer Luisa Spinatelli’s Le Corsaire team fêted in Milan

5 October 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Le Corsaire party2

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 … [Read more...] about Designer Luisa Spinatelli’s Le Corsaire team fêted in Milan

Interview with Angela Gheorghiu on Draculina, Kaufmann, capriciousness and corruption

31 July 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Angela Gheorghiu

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 … [Read more...] about Interview with Angela Gheorghiu on Draculina, Kaufmann, capriciousness and corruption

Riccardo Frizza answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition

22 June 2018 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Riccardo Frizza © Merri Cyr

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 … [Read more...] about Riccardo Frizza answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Conductors’ Edition

La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019

30 May 2018 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Teatro alla Scala

OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019

Bolle’s Boléro: Roberto Bolle at La Scala performs Béjart’s intoxicating rite for the first time

26 March 2018 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Roberto Bolle in Bolero © Brescia e Amisano, Teatro alla Scala 2018 7

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 … [Read more...] about Bolle’s Boléro: Roberto Bolle at La Scala performs Béjart’s intoxicating rite for the first time

Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

15 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Portrait of Maria José Siri by Victor Santiago 2

Q&A   in italiano When did you start singing? I started as a young girl… for as long as I can remember. Why did you start singing? I started by accident. I was supposed to go to my saxophone … [Read more...] about Maria José Siri answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Stunning photos from La Scala archives celebrate Raina Kabaivanska’s return to the theatre

3 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

1980 Tosca photo by Lelli e Masotti

As part of the Great Voices at La Scala series, Raina Kabaivanska will be interviewed Sabino Lenoci and Giancarlo Landini of Italy’s L’Opera magazine in the theatre at 4pm, Saturday 4 … [Read more...] about Stunning photos from La Scala archives celebrate Raina Kabaivanska’s return to the theatre

Preview peek at La Scala’s new production of Tamerlano starring Domingo, Mehta, Fagioli, Crebassa and Schiavo

12 September 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Tamerlano   Placido Domingo, photo by Brescia and Amisano   Teatro alla Scala 2017 02

La Scala’s Baroque Orchestra returns, after last year’s successful Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, for a new production of Handel’s Tamerlano, again conducted by Diego Fasolis. An … [Read more...] about Preview peek at La Scala’s new production of Tamerlano starring Domingo, Mehta, Fagioli, Crebassa and Schiavo

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

Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

6 May 2017 by Gramilano 3 Comments

Thomas Hampson by Jiyang Chen

Q&A When did you start singing?  In the crib. Apparently, I was a very vocal baby … no seriously, I already sang as a child. Why did you start singing? I loved tunes and music always … [Read more...] about Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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

La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts

18 May 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Ballet Season 2016-2017 Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 The new season opens with another step along the path of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini Project, Madama Butterfly, which will be … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts

Strong Italian presence in Royal Opera House Muscat’s new season

17 May 2016 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Royal Opera House Muscat's 2016-2017 Season is called Excellence in Diversity. It seems as though building was completed just the other day, yet the ROHM is about to enter its sixth season. In … [Read more...] about Strong Italian presence in Royal Opera House Muscat’s new season

ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio

7 April 2016 by Gramilano 1 Comment

All the details of the 2016-2017 Opera Season at London's Royal Opera House: skip to section: ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF THE ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON THE ROYAL OPERA SEASON … [Read more...] about ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio

Giovanna d’Arco – the background of La Scala’s latest production

6 December 2015 by Gramilano 11 Comments

On 7 December 2015, La Scala’s 2015-2016 Season opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco, which had its premiere at La Scala on 15 February 1845, but hasn’t been staged at the Milanese theatre … [Read more...] about Giovanna d’Arco – the background of La Scala’s latest production

Agnes Oaks answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

2 December 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A When did you start dancing? I started ballet at considerably late age, when I was already 10 years old. Why did you start dancing? It was my mother's idea for me to try this profession. … [Read more...] about Agnes Oaks answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

Interview with Virginia Zeani at 90 “My brain believes that I’m eternally young”

20 October 2015 by Gramilano 10 Comments

Virginia Zeani crop

Inside I feel 50, outside I feel 70, and my brain believes that I’m eternally young. But on 21 October the great soprano Virginia Zeani will be 90. Naturally, many of my friends are dead. It’s … [Read more...] about Interview with Virginia Zeani at 90 “My brain believes that I’m eternally young”

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NEWS

Ballet schools worldwide commit to a collective future with aDvANCE conference

A new 17-floor tower opens behind La Scala with rehearsal rooms and offices

Sarah Jessica Parker produces Front Row, a documentary following the United Ukrainian Ballet

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#WorldBalletDay celebrates 10th anniversary

Empire State Building to be lit in honour of New York City Ballet’s 75th Anniversary

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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