Günther Groissböck’s entrance at La Scala for his recital was formal and perfectly polite, but gave away nothing about the man; and so it was during the first group of Leid by Brahms, the Vier ernste Gesänge (Four Serious Songs). His unforced bass completely submitted to his will and – aside from some small cracks which seemed to indicate the tail end of a cold – was entirely … [Read more...] about Günther Groissböck at La Scala – triumphant with caution
Tchaikovsky
Olga Peretyatko – the generous and gifted artist in recital at La Scala
Olga Peretyatko was in glorious voice for her captivating recital at La Scala. Beautiful on both the eye and the ear she charmed throughout her highly demanding and lengthy programme, bewitching the audience for more than two hours – people headed toward the exits at 10.40pm after an 8pm start. A mixed programme offered three settings of Gretchen’s (or Margarete’s) soliloquy … [Read more...] about Olga Peretyatko – the generous and gifted artist in recital at La Scala
István Simon on the Semperoper Ballett dancing William Forsythe at the Palais Garnier, Paris
William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated was created for the Paris Opera Ballet who have performed it at home and abroad since 1987. The piece entered the repertoire of Dresden’s Semperoper Ballett in 2006 and now they are about to invade the Palais Garnier and perform it on the stage it was created for; the first guest company to do so. The Semperoper Ballett will … [Read more...] about István Simon on the Semperoper Ballett dancing William Forsythe at the Palais Garnier, Paris
En Avant’s next ballet projects include a special encounter with Marcelo Gomes
The En Avant Foundation will present specialised coaching master classes for advanced pre-professional and professional dancers in San Francisco and in New York in April 2015. The Foundation's inaugural event last June in New York was a resounding success and En Avant's Artistic Director Cynthia Harvey and her team are continuing to aim high. Isabelle Guérin, former Étoile … [Read more...] about En Avant’s next ballet projects include a special encounter with Marcelo Gomes
Rosalind Plowright’s first recital disc reviewed: La belle Dame sans merci
During a career spanning almost forty years, Rosalind Plowright has never recorded a recital disc. She has sung in all the world's greatest opera houses, with the most lauded of colleagues - singers, conductors, directors, designers - and made some important opera recordings and videos, yet the recital disc has never quite happened, even though recitals are a part of her career … [Read more...] about Rosalind Plowright’s first recital disc reviewed: La belle Dame sans merci
Thiago Soares answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? I started age 15. Why did you start dancing? When I joined the Centro de Dança Rio it felt right, and I felt like I had found something that I had been looking for until then.. and I thought that to keep going would take me somewhere. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? My first idol in dance was Fernando … [Read more...] about Thiago Soares answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Great Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86
Russian opera legend Galina Vishnevskaya has died today, December 11, at the age of 86. Vishnevskaya was born in St Petersburg (Leningrad) 25 October 1926, and cast out by her parents at six weeks. She was raised in absolute poverty by her grandmother. As a ten year old Galina was presented with a gramophone and an album of Eugene Onegin. This was her passport from the … [Read more...] about Great Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya dies at 86
Daniel Barenboim gets an early 70th birthday present in Berlin
On the eve of his 70th birthday, Daniel Barenboim has succeeded in launching a dream project: the creation of a music academy where young Arabs and Israelis will be able to train and study side by side. The Academy will cost nearly 30 million euros, and will be constructed in Berlin using the existing structure of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's old storage building. Two … [Read more...] about Daniel Barenboim gets an early 70th birthday present in Berlin
Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start dancing? When I was 13 years old. Why did you start dancing? Because I liked it and in my house it was something normal to see ballet; although first I wanted to be a football or basketball player! Which dancer inspired you most as a child? Fred Astaire, Antonio Gades and Vladimir Vasiliev. Which dancer do you most admire? Fred … [Read more...] about Igor Yebra answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
Critics round-up: Peter Schaufuss’ Tchaikovsky Trilogy
This promises to be the most fun critics round-up yet. Rarely have reviews been so unanimously foul. Being that there was so little to save, the critics left their stars in the drawer, and polished their metaphors with seeming glee. No amount of special pleading, of aesthetic jiggery-pokery, can excuse Schaufuss’s weird libretto as it plays its fatuous game by way of crass … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Peter Schaufuss’ Tchaikovsky Trilogy