Luciano Pavarotti died ten years ago today, on 6 September 2007. Teatro alla Scala continually welcomed the great tenor to its stage for almost three decades, from 1965 until 1992. At the Milanese opera house he sang under the baton of Abbado, Prêtre, Kleiber, Patané, Gavazzeni, Karajan, Maazel and Muti. Pavarotti worked extensively with La Scala’s […]
Samuel Ramey
Great musicologist Philip Gossett remembered by his colleagues and friends
Philip Gossett called himself “a fan, a musician and a scholar,” in that order. The great music scholar, who died yesterday in Chicago at the age of 75, saw himself first and foremost as a fan. It was his love and passion for opera, especially Italian opera of the 19th century, which led him to […]
Frederica von Stade answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? Maybe at 5. Why did you start singing? I always loved to sing anywhere, anytime. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? Gwen Verdon, Julie Andrews. Which singer do you most admire? It’s hard to choose… favourites are Janet Baker, Susan Graham, Richard Stilwell, Joyce DiDonato, Kiri […]
Happy 80th Birthday Mirella Freni… from La Scala – in photos and video
Mirella Freni is eighty, and to celebrate her birthday La Scala threw open its doors to her fans and opera lovers to see the great soprano once again on the stage that was hers for so many years. A feisty Freni strode onstage and seemed surprised and visibly moved by the long standing ovation. She […]
Interview with Samuel Ramey as he makes his début in his home town
Samuel Ramey, a meat-cutter’s son, came from the high plains of northwest Kansas. Now he’s performing at Kansas City Opera, his début with the company which turned him down early in his career. Ramey, who will be 70 next year, talked to the Kansas City Star; here are his words: On his origins “I think about […]
“Jackie – Celebrating Marilyn Horne” – Metropolitan Opera Luncheon 2011
The Metropolitan Opera Guild pays tribute to Marilyn Horne, on Monday, October 31. Stars and fans of opera will come together in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria for the Guild’s 77th Annual Luncheon. “Jackie – Celebrating Marilyn Horne” will honour the incomparable achievements of one of the greatest singers of our time with tributes from her […]
