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
Riccardo Muti
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
Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on religion, the Sistine Chapel and Salzburg
This evening, Cecilia Bartoli will become the first woman to sing in the Sistine Chapel. Though, strictly speaking, she was already the first – albeit in a private form – when she recorded the disc Veni domine there, earlier this year. The Sistine Chapel Choir is made up of men's voices and boy sopranos, yet Bartoli singing with them is a return to medieval monody when … [Read more...] about Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on religion, the Sistine Chapel and Salzburg
Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives
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 opera house he sang under the baton of Abbado, Prêtre, Kleiber, Patané, Gavazzeni, Karajan, Maazel and Muti. Pavarotti worked extensively with La Scala's current Musical … [Read more...] about Luciano Pavarotti, 10 years after his death, celebrated in exclusive photos from the La Scala archives
Interview with Riccardo Muti on the G7 Culture meeting as he asks, Who will guard the guardians?
The first G7 of Culture will be held in Florence on 30 and 31 March 2017. Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States will participate in a meeting to discuss the protection of cultural heritage, how to combat the trafficking of artistic and historic items, and how to use culture as an instrument for dialogue. The event will culminate with a … [Read more...] about Interview with Riccardo Muti on the G7 Culture meeting as he asks, Who will guard the guardians?