General Manager of Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Carlo Fuortes, has named Maestro Daniele Gatti as the opera house’s new Musical Director, with a three-year tenure, until 31 December 2021. The orchestra director’s first time working at the theatre at the inauguration of the 2016-2017 Season with Tristan und Isolde. He then returned to the podium for opening night on 12 December … [Read more...]
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...]
Picasso in Rome, with Diaghilev, Cocteau and Massine: The Ballets Russes and Parade
One hundred years ago, Pablo Picasso lived Rome for two months. It was his first trip to Italy. The Ballets Russes was in town and Picasso was eager to begin work on his designs for Parade, the ballet which would open on 18 May 1917 in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Two years previously, Picasso had found himself relatively alone in Paris. His mistress Eva Gouel had died … [Read more...]
Maria Callas to Daniela Dessì: study to be good, not famous
The popular Italian gossip magazine Chi has published a series of articles about soprano Daniela Dessì. Her death at 59, just over two months ago, shocked the opera world, and beyond: Chi is not a magazine for opera lovers. It reported part of an interview with Dessì when she recounted her meeting with Maria Callas. Dessì’s grandfather was a fan of Beniamino Gigli, her … [Read more...]
The BBC interviews Rome Opera’s chief: It was like a war
A few months ago, I was contacted by the BBC about an upcoming Peter Day's World of Business episode, which was to take a look at opera funding. They could hardly do such a programme – which also goes out globally on the BBC World Service and is one of the broadcaster’s most popular podcasts – without visiting opera’s home, Italy. Which opera house was best to feature, they … [Read more...]