From 18 October until 12 November The Royal Ballet will present a glorious mixed programme of four of Frederick Ashton’s finest ballets, celebrating not only his vast and impressive body of work but also the distinctive English balletic style he shaped.Frederick Ashton was the founding choreographer of The Royal Ballet and is now widely regarded as one of the world’s … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet celebrates founding choreographer Frederick Ashton
Royal Opera House
Damian Lewis participates in Deloitte Ignite at the Royal Opera House
Actors Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory will feature in the opening weekend of the Royal Opera House’s annual contemporary arts festival Deloitte Ignite which starts tomorrow, appearing in a pair of short films. Damian has read the story of Prometheus from Ted Hughes’s Tales from Ovid, and Helen has read Yeats’ Leda and the Swan and The Mother of God for films to be screened to … [Read more...] about Damian Lewis participates in Deloitte Ignite at the Royal Opera House
Opera snobs won’t stop us going back to La Bohème
By Peter Franklin, University of OxfordThe Royal Opera House’s restaging of La Bohème will get the same responses as any other production of the Puccini opera. The savvy enthusiast hedges cautiously, perhaps going with the sceptic’s play-it-safe response: “Well, it puts bums on seats, pays for the things we really want to see… in these difficult times, what with funding and … [Read more...] about Opera snobs won’t stop us going back to La Bohème
Carlos Acosta brings a touch of Cuba to the Royal Opera stage
Royal Ballet Principal Carlos Acosta will bring Cubanía, a programme of Cuban dance inspired by his homeland, to the Royal Opera House in July. The mixed programme contains world premieres and award-winning contemporary dance which will be accompanied by a live onstage Cuban house band. Cubanía is devised by Acosta and he will perform during the evening.Uniting dancers and … [Read more...] about Carlos Acosta brings a touch of Cuba to the Royal Opera stage
Renato Cioni’s last interview: remembering Callas
Renato Cioni, who died today, left at interview just a few months ago, talking to Stephen Hastings, the editor of the Italian magazine Musica. Hastings asked him about the London Tosca with Maria Callas fifty years earlier. Two years before singing with Callas, I'd written her a letter, saying that I'd be the happiest man in the world if I ever had the opportunity to sing with … [Read more...] about Renato Cioni’s last interview: remembering Callas
Thomas Allen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&AWhen did you start singing? Singing began for me in junior school, church choir and continued through grammar school; first as treble until I was 12 when my voice broke to what it is today.Why did you start singing? Why? Because it was always there, at home and at school. I always liked to sing.Which singer inspired you most when you were young? I grew … [Read more...] about Thomas Allen answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Unseen photos: Dame Janet Baker at 80
To help celebrate yesterday's 80th birthday of one of Britain's finest singers, Neil Gillespie, a friend and admirer who sings in the Royal Opera House chorus, amassed together tributes from Dame Janet Baker's colleagues, as well as younger singers and conductors, for an anthology which Gillespie presented to her as a surprise present.This photo of Dame Janet, looking more … [Read more...] about Unseen photos: Dame Janet Baker at 80
Sergei Filin returns to the Bolshoi
Sergei Filin's surprise appearance at the end of the Bolshoi's performance of Jewels at the Royal Opera House in London was emotional for Bolshoi dancers and London audience alike.The Bolshoi's Onegin, which premièred in Moscow last month, came about after Filin's long negotiations with Cranko’s heir, Dieter Graefe. And so it was with Jewels, with Filin convincing the … [Read more...] about Sergei Filin returns to the Bolshoi
Opera star Regina Resnik dies at 90
Regina Resnik, who was born as Resnick (she lost the 'c' early on) in the Bronx in 1922, has died in New York after a stroke, at 90.Resnick had a remarkable career change in her thirties went her voice shifted from soprano to mezzo. In an interview with the New York Times in 1967, she said, It was the biggest gamble of my life, when I decided over two tumultuous years that … [Read more...] about Opera star Regina Resnik dies at 90
Mara Galeazzi by her Royal Ballet friends and colleagues
Sarah Lamb, Marianela Nuñez, Gary Avis, Steven McRae, Thiago Soares and Edward Watson celebrate Mara GaleazziAs Royal Ballet dancers arrived in Verona to share the stage with Mara Galeazzi for the last time, they talked about their Italian colleague who has danced with the Royal Ballet from more than 20 years.Long-time partner Edward Watson, who joined the Royal Ballet … [Read more...] about Mara Galeazzi by her Royal Ballet friends and colleagues