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Rossini Opera Festival

Juan Diego Flórez interview: my 25 years with Rossini

26 August 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Juan Diego Flórez

Twenty-five years ago, Gramilano met a young Peruvian tenor in Milan. He was on his way to sing a small role in 'Ricciardo e Zoraide' at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and was bright-eyed with … [Read more...] about Juan Diego Flórez interview: my 25 years with Rossini

Italian festivals of music and dance march onward with creative initiatives and Green Passes

10 August 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Bolero - Balletto di Milano © Photo Carla Moro & Aurelio Dessì - 01

The Italian festivals of music and dance are back. Last year most were saved in extremis during the summer lockdown lull, but this year there was time to come up with some more suitable, creative … [Read more...] about Italian festivals of music and dance march onward with creative initiatives and Green Passes

Italy mourns the death of opera director Graham Vick at 67

17 July 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Graham Vick by Hugo Glendinning

Italy mourns the loss of the opera director Graham Vick who died today at 67 of Covid-related complications. Vick worked extensively in Italy and the Teatro Fenice in Venice, the Macerata Opera … [Read more...] about Italy mourns the death of opera director Graham Vick at 67

Paolo Bordogna answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition

10 June 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Paolo Bordogna crop

Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? On the staircase of my apartment building, there was an echo that added force to my voice; I listened to it as though it were my voice. It was … [Read more...] about Paolo Bordogna answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… singers’ edition

The great basso buffo, Enzo Dara, dies at 78

26 August 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

DARA ENZO in Il viaggio a Reims, photo by Lelli e Masotti   Teatro alla Scala

Enzo Dara, who would have been 79 in October, has died in Mantua, his home town. The exemplary Italian basso buffo died at 6pm yesterday afternoon in the town where he was born on 13 October … [Read more...] about The great basso buffo, Enzo Dara, dies at 78

Great musicologist Philip Gossett remembered by his colleagues and friends

14 June 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Philip Gossett   photo courtesy of the University of Chicago

Philip Gossett called himself “a fan, a musician and a scholar,” in that order. The great music scholar, who died yesterday in Chicago at the age of 75, saw himself first and foremost as a fan. It … [Read more...] about Great musicologist Philip Gossett remembered by his colleagues and friends

Teatro Comunale di Bologna pulls its orchestra and chorus from Rossini Opera Festival

18 March 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Rossini Opera Festival

Rossini Opera Festival The Rossini Opera Festival and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna have announced their separation after 30 years. Starting with a Petite Messe Solennelle in 1987, Bologna has … [Read more...] about Teatro Comunale di Bologna pulls its orchestra and chorus from Rossini Opera Festival

Nicola Alaimo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

16 November 2015 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Q&A   in italiano When did you start singing? I started singing when I was very young, but seriously in 1996, together with literature and music. I was a 17-year-old full of hopes and … [Read more...] about Nicola Alaimo answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Chris Merritt’s brave plea for help

12 April 2015 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Chris Merritt has written a heartfelt plea for financial aid on gofundme.com - he is asking fans and friends to help kick-start his career. Dear Ones, near and far.....I am turning to this … [Read more...] about Chris Merritt’s brave plea for help

Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

22 February 2015 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Italian director Luca Ronconi died yesterday evening in the Policlinico in Milan after a short illness. His health had been poor over the last years, he was on dialysis, and was complicated by … [Read more...] about Luca Ronconi, Italian director of theatre and opera, dies at 81

Stream Opera brings popular and rare delights to your PC

22 December 2014 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

If you haven't heard of StreamOpera - and you're interested in opera - then visit their site to enrich your Christmas hols, as it is full of exciting and unusual titles which can be streamed to your … [Read more...] about Stream Opera brings popular and rare delights to your PC

Juan Diego Flórez on his future, his family, his colleagues, and the economic crisis

17 August 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

To coincide with his Pesaro appearances this year, Juan Diego Flórez talked with Italy's Il Corriere della Sera. It was at Pesaro's Rossini Opera Festival in 1996 that the young Peruvian suddenly … [Read more...] about Juan Diego Flórez on his future, his family, his colleagues, and the economic crisis

Juan Diego Florez talks about his fairy-tale wedding, his fans, and being lazy

6 May 2012 by Gramilano 1 Comment

On the eve of Juan Diego Florez's Albert Hall concert, The Sunday Times sent a journalist to his home in Pesaro. This beautiful town on Italy's east coast - home to the Rossini Opera Festival, and … [Read more...] about Juan Diego Florez talks about his fairy-tale wedding, his fans, and being lazy

Daniela Barcellona sings Scarlatti

19 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The beautiful and technically demanding arias by Scarlatti constitute, surprisingly, the first recital disc by Italian mezzo Daniela Barcellona. If the record companies don't offer you a contract when … [Read more...] about Daniela Barcellona sings Scarlatti

Scholar Philip Gossett disagrees with the Met’s musical decisions

9 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

As I write the audience at the Metropolitan Opera's first production of Rossini's Le Comte Ory are leaving their seats during the first interval. So far it has been warmly received, but a … [Read more...] about Scholar Philip Gossett disagrees with the Met’s musical decisions

Even Florez is fallible: “a resonant expostulation of “Oh, shit” from the performer”

21 January 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Juan Diego Florez has been used to glowing reviews since his début at the Rossini Opera Festival. Recently he has started receiving some sterner criticism, and reactions to his latest recital in … [Read more...] about Even Florez is fallible: “a resonant expostulation of “Oh, shit” from the performer”

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NEWS

La Scala Ballet Season 2023-2024

La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024

Gustavo Dudamel to leave the Paris Opera at end of 22/23 season

Royal Opera House announces 2023-2024 opera and ballet Cinema Season

Royal Ballet’s three one-act ballets – Wayne McGregor (world premiere) | Wheeldon | MacMillan

The bizarre story of Italian opera house musical chairs – Meyer, Fuortes, Lissner

Blake Works V – La Scala presents a new work from William Forsythe – “You can get a lot done with calm.”

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s summer bill: Apollo – Interlinked – ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café

@giselle – a modern reimagining

Northern Ballet presents Federico Bonelli’s first season as Artistic Director 2023/2024

FEATURED POSTS

Romeo and Juliet with Sergei Polunin

Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up

Vadim Muntagirov answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition

franco fagioli © thibault stipal, 2014

Franco Fagioli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

Luca Pisaroni as Leporello in Don Giovanni at Glyndebourne   photo by Bill Cooper

In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut

Coppélia with Vadim Muntagirov and Marianela Nunez, photo by Bill Cooper ROH

Interview: The Royal Ballet’s Ballet Master, Christopher Carr, on mounting Coppélia, the company’s dancers and technique

Vittorio Grigolo’s new women’s shoes and a song for Hillary Clinton

You choose it out of Love! Dancing with the Khan-MacKay family

In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?

English National Ballet in Derek Deane's Swan Lake, photo by ASH, Arnaud Stephenson, 2013

Derek Deane on 20 years of his Swan Lake ‘in the round’

Lawrence Brownlee, © Shervin Lainez

Interview with tenor Lawrence Brownlee on being a black man in America: Cycles of My Being

GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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