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
Rome Opera
Rome Opera Ballet presents a Philip Glass Evening featuring a new work with Eleonora Abbagnato and Friedemann Vogel
Rome Opera Ballet presents a Philip Glass Evening, which opens 29 March 2019, and features a new work with the company’s director, Eleonora Abbagnato, and guest artist Friedemann Vogel. The programme offers Benjamin Millepied’s Hearts and Arrows, Jerome Robbins’s Glass Pieces, and Nuit Blanche, a new piece by Sébastien Bertaud with designs by Christian Dior Couture. Abbagnato … [Read more...] about Rome Opera Ballet presents a Philip Glass Evening featuring a new work with Eleonora Abbagnato and Friedemann Vogel
Daniele Gatti is appointed new Musical Director of Rome Opera
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...] about Daniele Gatti is appointed new Musical Director of Rome Opera
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’
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...] about Picasso in Rome, with Diaghilev, Cocteau and Massine: The Ballets Russes and Parade
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...] about Maria Callas to Daniela Dessì: study to be good, not famous
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...] about The BBC interviews Rome Opera’s chief: It was like a war
Businessman gives Rome Opera a million euros
The Rome Opera, which is emerging from a period of great economic difficulty, has been offered a gulp of oxygen by businessman Francis Yeoh, who has given the theatre a million euros. Yeoh runs YTL, a Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate which is an international utilities company, operating principally in England and Asia, with hotel chains, energy companies and building … [Read more...] about Businessman gives Rome Opera a million euros
Riccardo Muti snubs the Rome Opera Orchestra at Salzburg
So Riccardo Muti will be off to Salzburg next year to conduct Ernani but, unsurprisingly, he will not be in front of the Rome Opera Orchestra, as previously announced, but his Cherubini Youth Orchestra. After Muti's recent walkout in protest at the latest series of budget problems at the Rome Opera House, the Maestro may not have wanted to see the faces of those players for a … [Read more...] about Riccardo Muti snubs the Rome Opera Orchestra at Salzburg
Cecilia Bartoli weighs in on the Rome Opera scandal
Cecilia Bartoli has waded into the murky waters of the Rome Opera crisis. Although she hasn't sung in the theatre for years, it is her hometown, and where she started her career. We must find a solution, that's obvious, but the solution isn't to fire the chorus and orchestra and keep the management. What will the management do if there is no one left to manage? No [artist] … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli weighs in on the Rome Opera scandal