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 voice of Mirella Freni singing “Io son l’umile ancella” from Adriana Lecouvreur. The gala will be shown live on various television and radio channels worldwide. Freni, who died … [Read more...] about Mirella Freni’s voice will open La Scala’s gala for its new season
Riccardo Muti
Italian theatre closures: an appeal from Riccardo Muti
Muti Riccardo and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra photo by Todd Rosenberg … [Read more...] about Italian theatre closures: an appeal from Riccardo Muti
[Interview] Riccardo Muti on life with the coronavirus, music and the future
“If we continue to be unjust, God will take away our music." I want reassurances about what’s being done, not what will be done. I don't want to hear about the future. There are people who don't know how to get to the end of the day and feed their children. In my long life, I never even imagined such a thing, let alone experienced it. We’re living in a science fiction … [Read more...] about [Interview] Riccardo Muti on life with the coronavirus, music and the future
Federico Longhi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? When I was 6, in the chorus of my hometown in the Valle d’Aosta. A lady in my parish, Rita, invited me to sing and I was so happy... I looked forward to the rehearsals! When I was 16 I began to study at the conservatoire, and after that I met legendary baritone Giuseppe Valdengo, who became my voice teacher. Why did you start singing? I … [Read more...] about Federico Longhi answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Rock ballet ‘SHINE Pink Floyd Moon’ by Micha van Hoecke tours Italy’s open air festivals
Belgian choreographer, Micha van Hoecke, has collaborated extensively with conductor Riccardo Muti over the years, providing choreography for operas when the Maestro was head of La Scala, and then later in Rome when Muti took over at the Rome Opera for a short time. The association also brought him to the Ravenna Festival, founded and run by Muti’s wife, Cristina Mazzavillani, … [Read more...] about Rock ballet ‘SHINE Pink Floyd Moon’ by Micha van Hoecke tours Italy’s open air festivals
Interview: Carmen Giannattasio on her first Tosca, Lady Gaga, and homicide
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...] about Interview: Carmen Giannattasio on her first Tosca, Lady Gaga, and homicide
Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Today, La Scala announced a project to widen the knowledge and appreciation of Baroque music, in a country that has produced so much, yet now often overlooks a genre that is booming in other parts of the world. Cecilia Bartoli — who made a guest appearance last night at the end of Javier Camarena’s Italian debut concert as part of the Pavia Sacred Music Festival— will be … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
More than 10% tune in to see Andrea Chénier live from La Scala
11,1% of Italy's viewing public tuned in to watch Andrea Chénier transmitted yesterday evening, live from La Scala. 2,077,000 viewers followed the production, with over 11 million people watching it for a while before changing channels to watch their favourite game show. Italy is the home of opera, but people don’t wander down the streets whistling melodies from Aida, so … [Read more...] about More than 10% tune in to see Andrea Chénier live from La Scala
Interview with tenor Yusif Eyvazov, La Scala’s Andrea Chénier and not just ‘Mr Netrebko’
Tenor Yusif Eyvazov is a brave man indeed. Tonight, he makes his debut at La Scala… in the title role… on the opening night of the season. Many have gone down in flames with just one of these responsibilities, and the ‘loggionisti’ are waiting. He says, I’ve already accepted that there may be boos. It's December 7th, at La Scala.... a temptation difficult to resist for the … [Read more...] about Interview with tenor Yusif Eyvazov, La Scala’s Andrea Chénier and not just ‘Mr Netrebko’
La Scala remembers Dmitri Hvorostovsky who has died at 55
Teatro alla Scala has learnt with profound sorrow of the loss, after a long illness, of the baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Born in Krasnoyarsk in 1962, Hvorostovsky was one of the most esteemed voices and one of the most charismatic interpreters of the last decades in a repertoire ranging from Verdi to Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky. At La Scala he debuted in 1992 with a recital … [Read more...] about La Scala remembers Dmitri Hvorostovsky who has died at 55
