On 23 September, La Scala opened its doors for dance for the first time since February. It was a gala which had four showings, the last being yesterday. Social distancing in the auditorium was respected, as with the concerts which experimented with live theatre before the summer, by limiting the public to 800 – usually, 2,000 seats are available. Some boxes had just one … [Read more...] about [Review and Photos] La Scala’s Ballet Gala sees dance return to its stage, with Ferri, Bonelli, Zakharova and Bolle
Svetlana Zakharova
La Scala announces its opening gala programme
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 due to the coronavirus. The four-evening run begins on 23 September and stars the company’s étoiles Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle, guests Alessandra Ferri and Federico … [Read more...] about La Scala announces its opening gala programme
Les Étoiles for three days shone over Rome
The annual orgy of dance that kicks off the year in Rome, known as Les Étoiles, began in 2015 with an evening in the Auditorium della Conciliazione near the Vatican with its 1,700 seats. The gala has grown to occupy three days in the Auditorium Parco della Musica with its 2,800 seats. The reason for its astounding popularity is that it never disappoints. From the first outing, … [Read more...] about Les Étoiles for three days shone over Rome
Review: Giselle at La Scala with Zakharova/Hallberg, Manni/Andrijashenko, Valerio/Coviello
Giselle is one of La Scala Ballet’s international calling cards. Together with Nureyev’s Don Quixote, this production has been seen all over the world, and rightly so. The company dances it beautifully, and its staging by Yvette Chauviré (based, of course, on the Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot choreography) would be difficult to better. It is clearly told, the story points … [Read more...] about Review: Giselle at La Scala with Zakharova/Hallberg, Manni/Andrijashenko, Valerio/Coviello
Alberto Testa – Italian dancer, choreographer, teacher and writer – has died at 96
Alberto Testa was a walking encyclopedia of dance, always elegantly dressed with never a hair out of place, and was very much of another time recalling Frederick Ashton with his old-school ways. Although he could be childlike and impish in his humour, he commanded great deference from those who collaborated with him and those who could call him their friend. Just as the young … [Read more...] about Alberto Testa – Italian dancer, choreographer, teacher and writer – has died at 96