Vittorio Grigolo received an enthusiastic ovation after his performance as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’amore at La Scala. After having seen contracts suspended with The Royal Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala decided to take no action against the tenor as there is an undergoing investigation by The Royal Opera House. The audience was clearly […]
Royal Opera
Raina Kabaivanska recounts career secrets including La Scala’s fur coat and Pavarotti’s kiss
Latest in a collaboration between Italy’s L’Opera magazine and La Scala to celebrate the careers of singers – both living and deceased – was Saturday’s encounter with the great Bulgarian soprano Raina Kabaivanska, still statuesque and glamourous at 82. Interspersed with audio and video clips of some of her celebrated roles, were well-aimed questions from […]
The Royal Opera and Ballet in Cinema 2015-2016
Romeo and Juliet, 22 September at 7.15pm The Royal Ballet By Kenneth MacMillan Music: Sergey Prokofiev Le nozze di Figaro, 5 October at 6.45pm The Royal Opera Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Dir: David McVicar Cond: Ivor Bolton Cast includes Erwin Schrott and Anita Hartig Viscera / Afternoon of a Faun / Tchaikovsky pas de deux / […]
Relief among arts organizations as UK arts cuts are less than expected
The UK chancellor, George Osborne, has unveiled his 7% spending cut in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is part of the Spending Review. The Arts Council will share less of the burden however, with a 5% reduction during 2015/16. Acting chief at the Royal Opera House, Sally O’Neill, said, I am encouraged […]
Olivier Award 2013 nominations announced: dance and opera
While it’s great to see 87-year-old working choreographer Gillian Lynne get a special award, there is Marianela Núñez in the running for Outstanding Achievement in Dance, a nomination richly deserved by the Royal Ballet’s most radiant and thrilling ballerina. Another welcome name for dance is designer Lez Brotherston who has collaborated with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures from the beginning, […]
Gary Avis answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? My first steps were taken in the summer of 1981, at the tender age of 11. My starting point was Disco Dancing lessons at Tom & Pat Lait’s Ballroom classes, and then in 1982 I started ballet/modern lessons with my local ballet teacher at the Linda Shipton School of Dancing. […]
Rosalind Plowright answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? Age 12. I had always sung before but only found my true voice at this age. My father was a bass player and had been playing in the orchestra for a performance of The Mikado. Whilst travelling back home I imitated the voice of Katisha and out came this […]
Great Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86
Russian opera legend Galina Vishnevskaya has died today, December 11, at the age of 86. Vishnevskaya was born in St Petersburg (Leningrad) 25 October 1926, and cast out by her parents at six weeks. She was raised in absolute poverty by her grandmother. As a ten year old Galina was presented with a gramophone and […]
Clive Barda exposes the artists of the Royal Opera House in new exhibition
“EXPOSURE!”, a 100 image retrospective of Clive Barda’s photographic career, toured major China performing arts venues during spring 2012. Now it returns to the UK. The exhibition consists of 100 prints drawn from throughout Clive Barda’s career, beginning with classic early black and white images of Jacqueline Du Pré and portraits of iconic figures in […]
Dionne Warwick & (what!) friends celebrate World Hunger Day in the Royal Albert Hall
Music icon Dionne Warwick returns to the Royal Albert Hall to lead an all-star lineup including Cliff Richard, Alexandra Burke, Boy George, Caro Emerald, Tony Hadley, Joe McElderry, Katie Melua, Mica Paris, Rumer and The London Community Gospel Choir. The gala is in aid of international development charity, The Hunger Project. In celebration of World Hunger Day 2012, and as major highlight of her 50th Anniversary World Tour, Warwick […]
