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- dance, opera, photography...

Sarah Lamb

Interview: Royal Ballet Principal Calvin Richardson on life before and after Mayerling

23 April 2026 by Lily Hyde Leave a Comment

Calvin Richardson as Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling (c)2026 RBO. Photographed by Andrej Uspenski crop

After his debut in the ballet Mayerling, The Royal Ballet's Calvin Richardson spoke with Lily Hyde about his dream role and career as Principal Dancer. Like many male ballet dancers, Calvin … [Read more...] about Interview: Royal Ballet Principal Calvin Richardson on life before and after Mayerling

Review: Calvin Richardson makes an expressive and beautifully danced debut in The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling

3 April 2026 by Jonathan Gray Leave a Comment

Anna Rose O'Sullivan as Countess Marie Larisch and Calvin Richardson as Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling (c)2026 RBO. Photographed by Andrej Uspenski

Jonathan Gray sees Calvin Richardson's debut in Mayerling with The Royal Ballet – Tall, elegantly proportioned, expressive and, above all, blessed with great physical … [Read more...] about Review: Calvin Richardson makes an expressive and beautifully danced debut in The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling

Review: 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Programme B

10 August 2024 by Matthew Paluch Leave a Comment

17th WBF Programme B - 15 Onegin - Gilbert & Marchand, photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

Matthew Paluch sees Programme B at the 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo: "The festival has a 48-year legacy behind it, but this shouldn't be taken for granted." TitleWorld Ballet Festival, … [Read more...] about Review: 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Programme B

Review: 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Programme A

4 August 2024 by Matthew Paluch Leave a Comment

17th WBF Don Quixote Marianela Nunez-Vadim Muntagirov, photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

Matthew Paluch sees the Programme A gala at the 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo with 33 of the world's top dancers. TitleWorld Ballet Festival, Programme ACompanyJapan Performing Arts … [Read more...] about Review: 17th World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, Programme A

Ashton Celebrated – The Royal Ballet celebrates Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton

15 May 2024 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Natalia Osipova as Titania in The Dream, The Royal Ballet (c) 2014 ROH. Photographed by Bill Cooper

The Royal Ballet celebrates Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton with two special programmes  Les Rendezvous / The Dream / Rhapsody: 6 – 19 June 2024The Dream / Short Works / Rhapsody: 7 – … [Read more...] about Ashton Celebrated – The Royal Ballet celebrates Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton

Royal Ballet announces casting for Ashton Celebrated

28 March 2024 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward in Rhapsody photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

LES RENDEZVOUS / THE DREAM / RHAPSODY6–19 JUNE 2024 The Royal Ballet's mixed programme for Ashton Celebrated opens with the buoyant Les Rendezvous, a fizzing succession of dances following a group … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet announces casting for Ashton Celebrated

MacMillan Celebrated – The Royal Ballet celebrates its former principal choreographer

5 March 2024 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Rupert Pennefather and Ricardo Cervera in a scene from Requiem, The Royal Ballet, photo by Tristram Kenton, 2011

The Royal Ballet presents MacMillan Celebrated, a programme of works on both the Main Stage and Linbury Theatre celebrating the work of the company’s former Director and Principal Choreographer, … [Read more...] about MacMillan Celebrated – The Royal Ballet celebrates its former principal choreographer

Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon returns to The Royal Ballet for its 50th Anniversary

3 January 2024 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Lauren Cuthbertson as Manon and Matthew Ball as Des Grieux in Manon, The Royal Ballet, 2019 ROH. Photo by Alice Pennefather

17 January – 8 March 2024Live in cinemas: Wednesday 7 February 2024 The Royal Ballet presents Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, 50 years since the production's 1974 premiere, and 100 years since the birth … [Read more...] about Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon returns to The Royal Ballet for its 50th Anniversary

Casting for The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake (March-May 2024) is announced

4 November 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Swan Lake - The Royal Ballet-ROH

The Royal Ballet has announced casting for next year’s Swan Lake performances, which run from 6 March until 11 May 2024. In Liam Scarlett’s production, there will be role debuts for Soloist Mariko … [Read more...] about Casting for The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake (March-May 2024) is announced

Rocchetta Grand Jeté – Royal Ballet dancers among the Italian vines

22 August 2023 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Taisuke Nakao, Meaghan Grace Hinkis and Daichi Ikarashi in Les Lutins by Johan Kobborg

This weekend – 26 and 27 August – sees Steven McRae, Sarah Lamb, Matthew Ball, Mayara Magri, Ryoichi Hirano, Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Laura Morera, and other members of The Royal Ballet, in a gala … [Read more...] about Rocchetta Grand Jeté – Royal Ballet dancers among the Italian vines

[Review] Mayerling with Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward: a magnificent night full of dazzling performances

25 November 2022 by Matthew Paluch 6 Comments

Mayerling rehearsals with Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward, photo by Andrej Uspenski - 06

Guest author Matthew Paluch sees Mayerling at The Royal Opera House with Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward TitleMayerlingCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueThe Royal Opera House, LondonDate24 November … [Read more...] about [Review] Mayerling with Marcelino Sambé and Francesca Hayward: a magnificent night full of dazzling performances

A Diamond Celebration in cinema: The Royal Ballet Celebrates 60 Years

7 November 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Artists of The Royal Ballet in Diamonds, photo by Bill Cooper, ROH 2013

The Royal Ballet presents A Diamond Celebration, a special programme to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Friends of Covent Garden. It will be broadcast live to cinemas around the world on … [Read more...] about A Diamond Celebration in cinema: The Royal Ballet Celebrates 60 Years

Athelhampton House Gala: Stars of The Royal Ballet dance in charity gala this weekend

8 September 2022 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Akane Takada and Ryoichi Hirano in Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour

The Athelhampton House Gala in Dorset has become an annual happening after the Royal Ballet’s Meaghan Grace Hinkis created the event after the first lockdown in 2020. Hinkis, who has been a first … [Read more...] about Athelhampton House Gala: Stars of The Royal Ballet dance in charity gala this weekend

[Photo Album] First photos of The Royal Ballet’s Ashton Triple Bill

23 April 2022 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Sarah Lamb and Vadim Muntagirov in Scenes de ballet photo by Helen Maybanks ROH

Tonight, Saturday 23 April, The Royal Opera House curtain goes up on a triple bill of ballets by Frederick Ashton: Scènes de ballet, A Month in the Country, and Rhapsody. Frederick Ashton, The … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] First photos of The Royal Ballet’s Ashton Triple Bill

Royal Opera House dance and opera initiatives for Ukraine

22 March 2022 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Christian Curnyn and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in Ariodante in Concert, The Royal Opera © 2020 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton (1)

Today, the Royal Opera House unveiled fundraising initiatives in support of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The Royal Opera – Concert for Ukraine On Good … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House dance and opera initiatives for Ukraine

Royal Opera House: new ballet and opera streams

20 December 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Zenaida Yanowsky as Marguerite and Roberto Bolle as Armand in Marguerite and Armand. © ROH, 2017. Photographed by Tristram Kenton.

Wayne McGregor’s The Dante Project is available from the Royal Opera House’s streaming service from Monday 20 December at 19.30 GMT (20.30 CET). The Guardian said: For his new ballet, Wayne … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House: new ballet and opera streams

Royal Ballet stars for the Athelhampton Ballet Charity Gala 2021

23 August 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Anna Rose O'Sullivan in The Dying Swan, photo by Ian Rice

Last August, Royal Ballet First Soloist Meaghan Grace Hinkis was in her living room doing a Zoom ballet class when she realised it had been nearly six months since she had set foot on stage. That … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet stars for the Athelhampton Ballet Charity Gala 2021

Full Royal Opera House TV and streaming times for the Christmas period

5 December 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Magic Flute, The Royal Opera. © 2017, ROH. Photographed by Tristram Kenton. (2)

The Royal Opera House has announced its biggest ever programme of streaming and digital content, across a large range of platforms, “brought straight from our house to your house” over the Christmas … [Read more...] about Full Royal Opera House TV and streaming times for the Christmas period

[Photo Album] The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage – tonight and for 30 days

13 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Marianela Nunez in Le Corsaire, Royal Ballet Live, photo Emma Kauldhar ROH 2020

A special live-streamed performance tonight, Friday 13 November at 7.30pm GMT of the gala The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage, will be available through The Royal Opera House site for the next 30 days. … [Read more...] about [Photo Album] The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage – tonight and for 30 days

Royal Opera House announces live performance broadcasts during November lockdown

9 November 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House September 2019

The Royal Opera House has announced a series of live performance broadcasts, together with some repertory favourites from both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, throughout … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House announces live performance broadcasts during November lockdown

[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage

4 October 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Elite Syncopations. Sarah Lamb and Ryoichi Hirano. © ROH, 2018. Photographed by Tristram Kenton

The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, says about lockdown, I needed [the dancers] as much as they probably needed me. I think we have managed to keep the company spirit. Of course, we have … [Read more...] about [Interview] The Royal Ballet’s director, Kevin O’Hare, on returning to the Covent Garden stage

The Royal Opera House unveils its programme for live audiences this autumn

28 September 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Within the Golden Hour. Ryoichi Hirano and Lauren Cuthbertson. © ROH, 2019. Photographed by Tristram Kenton

#OurHouseToYourHouseThe Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet present: 4/4 and New Dark Age – two brand-new opera productions Current, Rising – world’s first new opera in hyper-realityMeet the … [Read more...] about The Royal Opera House unveils its programme for live audiences this autumn

The Royal Ballet is Back on Stage – Friday 9 October

23 September 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Live From Covent Garden rehearsals with Vadim Muntagirov 19 June 2020

The Royal Ballet is Back on Stage, returning for a live-streamed performance from the stage of Covent Garden on Friday 9 October at 7.30pm. After an absence of seven … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet is Back on Stage – Friday 9 October

Marquee TV – the Netflix for the arts – now streaming MacMillan’s Mayerling

18 June 2020 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Mayerling - Steven McRae as Prince Rudolf © ROH, 2017, Photographed by Alice Pennefather

Marquee TV has been called “the new Netflix for the arts” with its global streaming TV service for dance, opera and theatre. It has a pleasing interface and, more importantly, some great content … [Read more...] about Marquee TV – the Netflix for the arts – now streaming MacMillan’s Mayerling

Photos and full programme of Margot Fonteyn, A Celebration with The Royal Ballet

9 June 2019 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Darcey Bussell, Gary Avis in Fascade, photo Andrej Uspenski ROH

Last night, 8 June 2019, The Royal Ballet celebrated the centenary of the birth of its most famous ballerina, Dame Margot Fonteyn, who was born on 18 May 1919. A performance of The Firebird, … [Read more...] about Photos and full programme of Margot Fonteyn, A Celebration with The Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet in Japan and Los Angeles – dates and casting

6 June 2019 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Royal Ballet tours to Japan and Los Angeles this summer, presenting signature work from the Company’s repertory, a world premiere by Wayne McGregor and community engagement projects. Tokyo, Bunka … [Read more...] about The Royal Ballet in Japan and Los Angeles – dates and casting

Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s new triple bill

4 June 2019 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Firebird. Gary Avis. ©ROH, 2019. Photo by Tristram Kenton

The Firebird / A Month in the Country / Symphony in C The curtain has just gone up on The Royal Ballet's latest triple bill and here are the first photos. The flash of a firebird, a family sent into … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s new triple bill

Photo Album: first look at tonight’s premiere of Medusa with The Royal Ballet

8 May 2019 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Medusa. Artists of The Royal Ballet. ©ROH, 2019. Ph by Tristram Kenton. (4)

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui new work, Medusa, opens at The Royal Ballet this evening, together with revivals of  Christopher Wheeldon's Within the Golden Hour and Crystal Pite's ballet exploring the refugee … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at tonight’s premiere of Medusa with The Royal Ballet

Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s triple bill by Tharp, Pita and Shechter

7 November 2017 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Wind. Artists of The Royal Ballet. ©ROH, 2017, photo by Tristram Kenton 2

New work is as central to the repertory of The Royal Ballet as revivals of the classics. For Director of The Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare, contemporary choreographers and dancers are ‘creating the … [Read more...] about Photo Album: first look at The Royal Ballet’s triple bill by Tharp, Pita and Shechter

Royal Ballet ballerina stages starry gala in memory of her mother

12 June 2017 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Emma Maguire in Sweet Violets, The Royal Ballet © ROH Bill Cooper, 2012

Emma Maguire is a Soloist of The Royal Ballet. She lost her mother, Ann, a teacher, when she was stabbed to death in front of her class by a 15-year-old pupil at Corpus Christi Catholic College in … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet ballerina stages starry gala in memory of her mother

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Gramilano newsletter 2019

INTERVIEWS

Tamas Detrich at the Stuttgart Ballet

[Interview] Tamas Detrich’s first five years as director of Stuttgart Ballet

Mariposa by DeNada photo by Joe Armitage, crop

Interview: Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra on Mariposa – a Queer Tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly

In front of the Cathedral

Two ballet dancers on returning to the stage and dancers’ mental health

Yasmine Naghdi in rehearsal for Tarantella, The Royal Ballet © 2017 ROH. Photograph by Bill Cooper

[Interview] The Royal Ballet’s Yasmine Naghdi: a time to reflect

Luciano Pavarotti Recital 1988

[Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs

Dancers of English National Ballet in Swan Lake in the round c Laurent Liotardo 5

[Interview] Six quick questions for Derek Deane on the opening of his “Swan Lake in-the-round” in London

Yasmine Naghdi prepares for Gamzatti, photo by Dasa Wharton 16

Interviews with 3 Royal Ballet principals: Nuñez, Cuthbertson, Naghdi

Michele Esposito portrait

Introducing Michele Esposito… winner of the Prix de Lausanne 2017

G-100x100

GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer, aka 'Gramilano', is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.

Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.

He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.

Since 2022, Gramilano has been pleased to welcome guest authors: Paul Arrowsmith, Donatella Bertozzi, Georgina Butler, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Ann Haskins, Lily Hyde, Marta Mele, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Lucía Piquero, Graham Watts, Deborah Weiss, and Lydia Wharf.

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