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
Rossini
[Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album
Tenors Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee celebrate the star singers of Rossini’s time in a new album, Amici e Rivali (Friends and Rivals). The disc features arias, duets, and trios from seven of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee on their new Rossini album
Salzburg, L’italiana in Algeri – the role Cecilia Bartoli was born to play
Cecilia Bartoli was made to sing Isabella. Rossini wrote L’italiana in Algeri 200 years ago, but he could have been thinking of her. She waited until she was 50 to sing the role, though having pushed … [Read more...] about Salzburg, L’italiana in Algeri – the role Cecilia Bartoli was born to play
Gioachino Rossini at La Scala – a new exhibition, 150 years after the composer’s death
Gioachino Rossini died in France on 13 November 1868. For the 150th Anniversary of the composer’s death director and designer Pier Luigi Pizzi will curate an exhibition to commemorate the … [Read more...] about Gioachino Rossini at La Scala – a new exhibition, 150 years after the composer’s death
Interview with Riccardo Chailly on Andrea Chénier and his 40 years at La Scala
Chénier is not only a masterpiece of verismo, but it mirrors many contrasting aspects that preceded the music of the 20th century: there’s Wagner, with echoes of the prelude of Tristan; there is … [Read more...] about Interview with Riccardo Chailly on Andrea Chénier and his 40 years at La Scala
Rossini’s Otello is back at La Scala after 145 years
After 145 years, Rossini’s Otello is back at La Scala. Incredibly, it hasn’t been performed at the theatre since 1870. A welcome return then for Rossini’s take on Shakespeare’s story, which he and his … [Read more...] about Rossini’s Otello is back at La Scala after 145 years
The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album
Joyce DiDonato's new album, Stella di Napoli, is out in September and "ventures far off the beaten bel canto track", says her Erato label. Graciously, Cecilia Bartoli is nominated because, as … [Read more...] about The Stella of Kansas goes to Naples: Joyce DiDonato’s latest album
Cecilia Bartoli’s début in L’italiana in Algeri is cancelled
Cecilia Bartoli's much anticipated début as Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri this weekend has been cancelled. The Italian girl in Dortmund, where the concert performance of Rossini's opera was … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s début in L’italiana in Algeri is cancelled
Fiorenza Cossotto receives the Marietta Alboni award
Mezzo soprano Fiorenza Cossotto has been awarded the first Contr’alto di donna prize, given in honour of the great contralto Marietta Alboni. The ceremony and conversation with Fiorenza Cossotto … [Read more...] about Fiorenza Cossotto receives the Marietta Alboni award
Teresa Berganza’s 80th birthday bash
Tomorrow evening, 21 June 2013, the Teatro Real in Madrid celebrates the 80th birthday of local girl Teresa Berganza. Certainly, the encyclopedias say that she was born in 1935, but she can hardly … [Read more...] about Teresa Berganza’s 80th birthday bash
Joyce DiDonato’s recital interrupted by a call from Rossini
Joyce DiDonato well and truly conquered La Scala's audience during her recital last night. She was greeted by an ovation that took her aback - the sort of applause reserved for a Marilyn Horne or … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato’s recital interrupted by a call from Rossini
New records set at Cecilia Bartoli’s Whitsun Festival in Salzburg
A new record for visitors and revenue has been set at Salzburg's Whitsun Festival. The Festival, which ran from 17-20 May, boasted 13,450 visitors from 43 countries, who spent 1.3 million Euros in … [Read more...] about New records set at Cecilia Bartoli’s Whitsun Festival in Salzburg
Cecilia Bartoli triumphs at La Scala amidst catcalls and boos
After nineteen years, Cecilia Bartoli's return to Milan's La Scala tonight was long overdue. Daniel Barenboim was the instigator of the event, the opening of the La Scala Philharmonic's season. An … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli triumphs at La Scala amidst catcalls and boos
Cecilia Bartoli rehearses with Daniel Barenboim at La Scala for her comeback concert tomorrow
As I write, Cecilia Bartoli is rehearsing with Daniel Barenboim and the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra in the Milanese theatre. Tomorrow marks her comeback to the theatre after an absence of nearly … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli rehearses with Daniel Barenboim at La Scala for her comeback concert tomorrow
Cecilia Bartoli on her voice, her repertoire, on turning down Carmen and facing up to Norma
Cecilia Bartoli's been busy: not only getting ready for her new tour featuring the extraordinarily difficult arias by Agostino Steffani that are featured on her new CD Mission, but also doing the … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli on her voice, her repertoire, on turning down Carmen and facing up to Norma
Restaurants of Ghent, Brussels and Mechelen during Flanders is a Festival
This is not a food blog, but as food has, in some way, influenced every dancer, musician, actor, and for that matter everyone else on the planet, I though I could squeeze it in. Food had a profound … [Read more...] about Restaurants of Ghent, Brussels and Mechelen during Flanders is a Festival
Juan Diego Flórez on his future, his family, his colleagues, and the economic crisis
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
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 at La Scala: big girls can be sexy too!
To those who have witnessed Daniela Barcellona only on the operatic stage, it may come as a surprise to learn that she is a convincing and elegant artist on the recital platform. All images of … [Read more...] about Daniela Barcellona at La Scala: big girls can be sexy too!
Cecilia Bartoli takes a ship to join Valery Gergiev in St Petersburg
Yesterday, before Cecilia Bartoli's highly anticipated concert at the Mariinsky Theater Concert Hall in St Peterburg tomorrow evening, she gave a press conference alongside Valery Gergiev who will … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli takes a ship to join Valery Gergiev in St Petersburg
Cecilia Bartoli’s “Clari” wins Opera DVD of the Year in Germany
An Echo Award, Germany's top classical music prize, has been awarded to Decca's release of Halévy's little known opera Clari . It was named "Opera DVD of the Year". The DVD is a recording of the … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli’s “Clari” wins Opera DVD of the Year in Germany
Daniela Barcellona sings Scarlatti
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
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
Bartoli débuts in Australia – the Perth audiences loved her
Well of course it was going to be a success. Bartoli's Australian fans snapped up tickets for her first visit to their country. But after all the expectation there is the risk of an anticlimax. Not … [Read more...] about Bartoli débuts in Australia – the Perth audiences loved her
Joyce DiDonato’s new CD “Diva, Divo” celebrates the vast and fabulous world of the mezzo-soprano
As the blurb succinctly puts it, "This new collection showcases DiDonato’s multi-faceted art – and the wealth of opportunities open to a mezzo-soprano – by presenting her as different characters, both … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato’s new CD “Diva, Divo” celebrates the vast and fabulous world of the mezzo-soprano
Even Florez is fallible: “a resonant expostulation of “Oh, shit” from the performer”
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”
DIVA,DIVO, the new recording from Joyce DiDonato to be released later this month
Here's the official YouTube clip of the recording sessions and interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ5I2TbeISs DiDonato's site announces the release: Hot on the heels of winning … [Read more...] about DIVA,DIVO, the new recording from Joyce DiDonato to be released later this month
Daniel Harding conducts the New Year’s Concert from Venice
The increasingly popular New Year's Concert from the La Fenice theatre in Venice will be shown live on Italian television and relayed to many other countries around the globe. It goes in direct … [Read more...] about Daniel Harding conducts the New Year’s Concert from Venice
The last classical music chart before Christmas
The best selling classical discs in the UK during the Christmas run-up are mostly predictable with André Rieu's 'Mostly Vienna' at the N°1 position. In the line up there's also Andrea Bocelli's … [Read more...] about The last classical music chart before Christmas
Accompanist Graham Johnson is awarded honorary membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is one of the two oldest music societies in the world. It was formed on 24 January 1813 with the aim ‘to promote the performance, in the most perfect manner possible of … [Read more...] about Accompanist Graham Johnson is awarded honorary membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society
