After almost a month touring China, La Scala’s ballet company popped back to Milan for a run of Manon performances, before popping off to Australia for thirteen performances in Brisbane, from 7 to 18 November. It is the company’s first time in Australia and they are taking two of their most popular productions: Don Quixote and Giselle. Performances are at the Queensland … [Read more...]
Photo Album: La Bayadère with The Royal Ballet – first night with Nuñez, Osipova and Muntagirov
Here are the first photos from the dress rehearsal of tonight's opening cast at The Royal Opera House of Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère. Solor is danced by Vadim Muntagirov, Gamzatti by Natalia Osipova, and Marianela Nuñez is Nikiya. This is also the cast that will be dancing when the ballet is transmitted live in cinemas on 13 November 2018. An iconic 19th-century Russian … [Read more...]
Danza in Italia column returns in the latest issue of Dancing Times
The latest issue of Dancing Times magazine, November 2018, is being shipped to newstands as I write. The new Danza in Italia column looks at Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote at Teatro alla Scala, with important debut performances from Timofej Andrijashenko, Martina Arduino and Marco Agostino, and with Nicoletta Manni returning as Kitri; Jacopo Tissi comes home to dance again on La … [Read more...]
William Forsythe on working as a stripper – “It’s great money” – and working with dancers – “You revive their faith”
In an interview to coincide with William Forsythe’s A Quiet Evening of Dance at Sadler’s Wells, The Sunday Times’ David Jay spoke to the choreographer about a period as a young man when he worked as ‘a club dancer’. Forsythe was quick to correct: I worked as a stripper. Why not? It’s great money. Refreshingly forthright. It’s difficult to imagine Frederick Ashton saying such … [Read more...]
Two beautiful volumes from Amici della Scala: 80 years of costumes at La Scala and the designer Coltellacci
Vittoria Crespi Morbio, the writer of an exceptional collection of books produced by the Amici della Scala, has written monographs on important artists who have collaborated with Teatro alla Scala – some celebrated, some largely forgotten. These little gems are precious in the content but lacking in their scale. However, luckily, the Friends of La Scala sometimes bring out … [Read more...]