With Rolando Panerai we lose a star of opera that we will not see the like of again, and many of his performances have shaped the history of La Scala’s opera house. La Scala left these words today, reflecting on the career of the great baritone, who died on Tuesday at 95. Maybe some of Panerai's most memorable performances at La Scala were in Lucia di Lammermoor with Callas … [Read more...] about Rolando Panerai dies at 95 – a career of tradition and adventure
Sergei Prokofiev
Matthew Bourne’s new Romeo and Juliet comes to cinema screens
Matthew Bourne’s contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is set in the not-too-distant future in ‘The Verona Institute’. ‘Difficult’ young people are mysteriously confined by a society that seeks to divide and crush their youthful spirit and individuality. The two young lovers follow their hearts and risk everything to be together. The production – ‘One of … [Read more...] about Matthew Bourne’s new Romeo and Juliet comes to cinema screens
Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
Johan Kobborg asked David Umenoto to design the sets for his Romeo and Juliet which has its world premiere in Verona’s vast Arena on 26 August. The commission came about after Kobborg had seen an exhibition of Umenoto’s sculptures: His works are contemporary but respect the past – you can feel the importance of memory yet there is a profound break with it. After seeing his … [Read more...] about Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
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 … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
English National Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella in-the-round
English National Ballet will perform a new in-the-round version of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella at the Royal Albert Hall from 6-16 June 2019. Working from the dark Brothers Grimm version of the story, Wheeldon created Cinderella for Dutch National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. Now he and his creative team reunite for the in-the-round re-staging. The production includes … [Read more...] about English National Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella in-the-round
From Noverre to Chauviré: A dancer must have a real depth of culture
If you read November’s edition of Dancing Times (and I strongly recommend that you do!), the magazine’s Talking Point column has some musings by Gramilano on the importance of dancers being informed not only about their own art, but about other arts, many of which are accumulated to make a ballet anyway: prose, music, painting, sculpture. Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet is … [Read more...] about From Noverre to Chauviré: A dancer must have a real depth of culture
Mara Galeazzi returns home for her swan song
You may not to get to see Royal Ballet principal Mara Galeazzi dance at the Royal Opera House again (addio 13 June 2013 in Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling), or with the Royal Ballet (addio 29 June in MacMillan's Manon), but there is a wonderful opportunity to see her dance in three weeks' time. On 23 July there will be a magnificent ballet gala at Verona's Teatro Romano … [Read more...] about Mara Galeazzi returns home for her swan song
Aterballetto’s Romeo and Juliet in Milan: contemporary dance at its highest level
Romeo and Juliet by Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti was created for his company Aterballetto in 2006, and has received international acclaim ever since. But what a strange bird it is. Exotic and sensual, yes, beautiful to behold, certainly, but the storytelling is vague and, even for a viewer who knows traditional versions of Prokofiev’s ballet intimately, Bigonzetti’s … [Read more...] about Aterballetto’s Romeo and Juliet in Milan: contemporary dance at its highest level
A thumbs down for the revival of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella
Created in 1997, Bourne's Blitz Cinderella is being revived at Sadlers' Wells. The critics had some doubts. Zoë Anderson in The Independent starts: Matthew Bourne can come across as a brilliant producer of his own weaker work. His Cinderella moves the fairytale into the London Blitz, a monochrome period world lit red by fire. The staging is stylish, from pace to tiny, witty … [Read more...] about A thumbs down for the revival of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella
BRB’s Cinderella under the BBC’s Christmas tree
Cinderella is the BBC's ballet offering for Christmas. The new, much-acclaimed Bintley production for the Birmingham Royal Ballet will be shown on BBC 2: Performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet in its 20th anniversary year, BBC Two broadcasts a new production of Cinderella – a dazzling visual experience choreographed by David Bintley. The production brings together … [Read more...] about BRB’s Cinderella under the BBC’s Christmas tree