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Gramilano

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[Review] World premiere of Crystal Pite’s Light of Passage for The Royal Ballet

19 October 2022 by Matthew Paluch 1 Comment

Crytal Pite's Light Of Passage - The Royal Ballet, photo Tristram Kenton ROH

Guest author Matthew Paluch reviews the opening night of Crystal Pite’s Light of Passage, her first full-length ballet for The Royal Ballet. TitleLight of PassageCompanyThe Royal BalletVenueThe … [Read more...] about [Review] World premiere of Crystal Pite’s Light of Passage for The Royal Ballet

[Review] Korea’s Dolpagu company presents XXL Leotard, the story of a boy’s leotard fascination

30 September 2022 by Matthew Paluch Leave a Comment

Dolpagu presents XXL Leotard and Anna Sui Hand Mirror photo by AO

TitleXXL Leotard and Anna Sui Hand MirrorCompanyDolpagu VenueThe Coronet TheatreDate29 September 2022ReviewerMatthew Paluch Can you feel it? Can you feel the ppalli-ppalli of the Hallyu? Need … [Read more...] about [Review] Korea’s Dolpagu company presents XXL Leotard, the story of a boy’s leotard fascination

Ballet22 – mxn en pointe

22 August 2021 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Ballet22 crop

Lockdowns have been crippling for dancers and dance companies, but many have eagerly sought out silver linings and the enforced time out has given opportunities for reflection and reinvention. A … [Read more...] about Ballet22 – mxn en pointe

[Interview] Roberto Bolle: I’m very focused on what I do… that’s a difficult pact for anyone

4 January 2021 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Boléro with Roberto Bolle photo by Brescia e Amisano Teatro alla Scala, 2019 (9)

Dedication I know I gave up my childhood, adolescence and youth, and I am also aware that those times will never come back. I was a soldier, always on the march. But I am not one of those … [Read more...] about [Interview] Roberto Bolle: I’m very focused on what I do… that’s a difficult pact for anyone

Cruelty at the Bolshoi: acid attacks and smear campaigns. Tsiskaridze responds.

20 January 2013 by Gramilano 4 Comments

Sergei Filin had been receiving intimidating phone calls for a while, and had had his tyres punctured and his email hacked, but the acid attack that has shocked the dance world is beyond all … [Read more...] about Cruelty at the Bolshoi: acid attacks and smear campaigns. Tsiskaridze responds.

Sylvano Bussotti: flamboyant composer, poet, set and costume designer, theatre director, and… and… and…

27 December 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Silvano Bussotti, known as Sylvano, is an Italian eccentric, some say genius, and the word 'flamboyant' appears in many articles about this modern Renaissance man. He is a composer, poet, set and … [Read more...] about Sylvano Bussotti: flamboyant composer, poet, set and costume designer, theatre director, and… and… and…

The Man I Love – was George Gershwin gay?

2 November 2012 by Gramilano 6 Comments

Michael Feinstein’s book on the Gershwins called, sensibly, “The Gershwins and Me” (Simon & Schuster) was published in October. While he was still working in piano bars, Feinstein got to know Ira … [Read more...] about The Man I Love – was George Gershwin gay?

Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Homage to Fokine

14 August 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The second of six programmes brought to London by the Mariinsky was a triple bill of Mikhail Fokine's choreography: Chopiniana, The Firebird and Scheherazade. The Times explained the programming: In … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Homage to Fokine

A fresh wind from the north: Lee Hall and Opera North’s Bridlington community opera will go ahead as planned

7 July 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Opera North today announces that the community opera, Beached, by Harvey Brough to a text by Lee Hall, is continuing as planned. Here is the statement from their blog:   We have been at pains … [Read more...] about A fresh wind from the north: Lee Hall and Opera North’s Bridlington community opera will go ahead as planned

Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”

6 July 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lovers of Hollinghurst's writing have been waiting a long time for the end of June 2011 and the publication of his new novel. In fact, the wait has been seven years, but now we know that it was worth … [Read more...] about Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”

A gay painter, an outraged headmistress, and Billy Elliott’s literary dad: opera and homophobia up north

5 July 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

Lee Hall, the creator of Billy Elliott, has caused a Twitter storm accusing Opera North of being homophobic. He is the librettist of 'Bleached', an exciting project based in Bridlington, East … [Read more...] about A gay painter, an outraged headmistress, and Billy Elliott’s literary dad: opera and homophobia up north

Opera by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall cancelled over gay reference

4 July 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

An opera involving primary school pupils has been cancelled after the writer refused to remove references to a gay character's sexuality. The opera, Beached, written by Billy Elliot creator Lee … [Read more...] about Opera by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall cancelled over gay reference

Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality

29 April 2011 by Gramilano 1 Comment

The Guardian went to meet Patrice Chéreau who is in London to rehearse the first play he has ever directed in the UK. It's a coup for the Young Vic. The play he is rehearsing is I Am The Wind, a … [Read more...] about Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality

Elizabeth Taylor: selection from a life… what today’s press has been saying, her best films and her changing look

23 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Today's press A London-born beauty who never lost her clipped, clean way of speaking, Ms. Taylor possessed vivid features known to three generations of filmgoers: Raven hair, dark eyebrows, ivory … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Taylor: selection from a life… what today’s press has been saying, her best films and her changing look

“Don’t put your bottom in their faces” – advice on how to get to your theatre seat

6 February 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Ita Buttrose, an Australian journalist and businesswoman, is probably best-remembered as the founding editor of Cleo, a high-circulation magazine aimed at women aged 20 to 40 that was … [Read more...] about “Don’t put your bottom in their faces” – advice on how to get to your theatre seat

Cecilia Bartoli leaves an interview with Manchester Confidential before her Sacrificium concert at The Bridgewater Hall

26 November 2010 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Cecilia Bartoli has been at the forefront of classical music for more than two decades. She’s sold more than eight million CDs, won four Grammys and has been awarded two classical Brit awards. Ahead … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli leaves an interview with Manchester Confidential before her Sacrificium concert at The Bridgewater Hall

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NEWS

New York City Ballet 2023 Spring Season is announced

Principal Brandon Lawrence to leave Birmingham Royal Ballet to join Ballett Zürich

Two new opera recordings to be released by Warner Classics/Erato

Four new Principal dancers for New York City Ballet

LaScalaTv, La Scala’s new streaming platform, is now live

Royal Ballet principal dancer Laura Morera to retire

Pam Tanowitz’s Secret Things, her second world premiere for The Royal Ballet this season

Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

Principal dancer Jared Angle to give final performance with NYCB

The Australian Ballet will tour to the Royal Opera House in August 2023

FEATURED POSTS

Grand Pas Classique at English National Ballet, photo by Laurent Liotardo

Introducing 19-year-old Canadian dancer Shale Wagman: from Lausanne to ENB to the Mariinsky

Coppélia with Vadim Muntagirov and Marianela Nunez, photo by Bill Cooper ROH

Interview: The Royal Ballet’s Ballet Master, Christopher Carr, on mounting Coppélia, the company’s dancers and technique

How to stage a ballet… Maina Gielgud explains

franco fagioli © thibault stipal, 2014

Franco Fagioli answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

In and Out: Bolle, Gomes, Stiefel – how easy is it to be an openly gay ballet dancer?

Jakub Józef Orliński

In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński

Dance injuries from the ballet dancer’s point of view: top stars share their experiences

Steven McRae by Rick Guest crop

The Royal Ballet’s Steven McRae on injury: turning weakness into strength

Joyce DiDonato answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition

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

GRAHAM SPICER

Writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like. I was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. My scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. I write the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or follow my Facebook page.

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