La Scala has announced the programme, though not with full casting, of its Ballet Gala which marks the return of the company to the stage after the cancellation of the theatre’s programming in March.
Rudolf Nureyev
Nureyev on staging the “ballet of ballets” The Sleeping Beauty
Rudolf Nureyev first staged Sleeping Beauty at La Scala in Milan and on 22 September 1966 the curtain went up on La Bella addormentata nel bosco with sets and costumes by Nicholas Georgiadis. Nureyev was Prince Florimund and Aurora was Carla Fracci.
In 1989, Nureyev said,
“When I was first learning to dance in Ufa, my ballet master, who had belonged to the Kirov ballet, used to tell me that Sleeping Beauty was the “ballet of ballets”. And I couldn’t wait to try it. It was with the Kirov ballet that I later discovered what a glorious delight it was.”
Google Arts & Culture puts thousands of images and documents from La Scala’s archive online
Google Arts & Culture is a non-profit initiative with the tech giant working alongside cultural institutions and artists around the world to bring some of the world’s art and culture online so that it can be accessible to anyone, anywhere.
La Scala Opera House has teamed up with Google Arts & Culture to bring online the largest opera house archive, with images from operas, ballets and concerts, with designs, and scores. Thanks to Google’s Street View – which usually helps you to spy on the new house your friend has bought or find your way around a city centre to find a particular pub – you can wander around La Scala’s auditorium, foyers, stage and corridors.
Dancing Times, May Edition with the Danza in Italia column
Life is challenging, but Dancing Times soldiers on, as it has done for 110 years, more than any other dance publication. In all that time, even during world wars, it has never missed publishing an issue, and the coronavirus isn’t about to stop it in its tracks.
Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column was lucky in that it is bi-monthly, and as such still had some shows to review.
Review: Enthralling programme of 5 works by Hans van Manen and Roland Petit at La Scala
An unusual mixed bill at La Scala showcased the works of two choreographers: Hans van Manen and Roland Petit. Two of the van Manen pieces were new to the company, though his Adagio Hammerklavier, which opened the programme, was performed in Milan in 1985. Adagio Hammerklavier was created in 1973 (the men wear leg-warmers and […]
Rome Opera Ballet names its main dance studio after the late Elisabetta Terabust
The Intendant at Rome Opera, Carlo Fuortes, and the director of the opera house’s ballet company, Eleonora Abbagnato, together with theatre employees, today inaugurated the Sala Elisabetta Terabust, the main ballet rehearsal room, formerly known as Sala Ballo A. Virginia Raggi, Rome’s mayor, said, Elisabetta Terabust, a woman with a strong personality, was appreciated throughout […]
Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky
Canadian dancer Shale Wagman turned 19 last May. Soon after he was guesting at the Mariinsky Theatre. What’s more, it was his first time dancing a principal role. Ever. Last season – his first as a professional dancer – he was dancing with English National Ballet’s corps de ballet, part of his prize after winning […]
Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
The latest issue of Dancing Times is out tomorrow. In September’s issue, I cover Wayne McGregor’s “amazing” Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri giving a “frighteningly intense” performance alongside an excellent cast from La Scala Ballet including “powerful and touching” performances from Timofej Andrijashenko as Septimus and Claudio Coviello as Evans, and Gioacchino […]
In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
If there is a ballet that belongs to La Scala, it’s Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, created for the ballet company in 1966 with Carla Fracci and Nureyev in the main roles. It was performed 152 times until 2007, when Tchaikovsky’s score fell silent for eight years until awoken by Alexei Ratmansky when […]
La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
This morning, Frédéric Olivieri, director of La Scala’s ballet company, announced the theatre’s 2019-2020 season: Sylvia 14 December 2019 – 14 January 2020 Music: Léo Delibes Choreography: Manuel Legris based on Louis Mérante and others Story and libretto: Manuel Legris and Jean-François Vazelle based on Jules Barbier and Jacques de Reinach Sets and costumes: Luisa […]