OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the Italian repertoire, continuing with the cycle of works of Verdi, Puccini, Verismo (which will return in 2020 with Giordano’s Fedora and Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre re), and the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
Thomas Hampson
Robert Carsen’s jewel of a Don Giovanni sparkles again at La Scala
Robert Carsen created a jewel of a production for La Scala when he mounted a new Don Giovanni for the opening of the opera season in 2011. It is now being seen for the first time since then, and it is glorious both in the no-expense-spared staging and the wealth of ideas that Carsen brings, without ever being gimmicky. It thrills from the beginning when Thomas Hampson, as Don … [Read more...] about Robert Carsen’s jewel of a Don Giovanni sparkles again at La Scala
Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Robert Carsen’s spectacular production for La Scala of Don Giovanni created for the opening of the opera season in 2011, started a ten-performance run last night, which ends on 6 June. The Financial Times review opened with, No coup de théâtre ever matched Mozart’s opening chords as stunningly as this. This is a welcome return. Daniel Barenboim saw over a cast that … [Read more...] about Photo album and cast of Don Giovanni at La Scala
Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? In the crib. Apparently, I was a very vocal baby … no seriously, I already sang as a child. Why did you start singing? I loved tunes and music always made sense to me. Which singer inspired you most when you were young? Frank Sinatra. Which singer do you most admire? Giuseppe de Luca for pure vocalism and Tito Gobbi for why … [Read more...] about Thomas Hampson answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Thomas Hampson dominates La Scala’s stage with supreme artistry
Thomas Hampson returned last night to La Scala, where he has been a regular presence in recital for almost three decades. Extraordinarily, he has never sung an opera in Milan, but next month he will finally make his operatic debut as Don Giovanni. Last night, however, a full theatre was eager to hear him once again in a repertoire that he owns: German song. The recital … [Read more...] about Thomas Hampson dominates La Scala’s stage with supreme artistry
In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut
Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni will make his house debut at La Scala in 2017 as Leporello. It will be only the second opera he has sung in Italy. The performances of Don Giovanni are just before his 42nd birthday. Astonishing: a prophet is not without honour save in his own country. I grew up musically outside Italy. I began my career outside and for some reason I have … [Read more...] about In conversation with Luca Pisaroni: back to Milan with his La Scala debut
La Scala Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 – full dates and interpreters
The concert programme includes some of the greatest living conductors. Riccardo Chailly will be on the podium for two evenings of the Symphony Season, Verdi’s Requiem in October, and the concert to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arturo Toscanini on 25 March 1867. The Symphony Season also sees the return of Christoph von Dohnányi (who will also conduct the … [Read more...] about La Scala Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 – full dates and interpreters
La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts
Ballet Season 2016-2017 Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 The new season opens with another step along the path of Riccardo Chailly’s Puccini Project, Madama Butterfly, which will be directed by Alvis Hermanis (Die Soldaten and I due Foscari at La Scala) with Maria José Siri as Butterfly and Bryan Hymel as Pinkerton. It will use the original version of the opera … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2016-2017 – full dates and casts
ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
All the details of the 2016-2017 Opera Season at London's Royal Opera House: skip to section: ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF THE ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON THE ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016-2017 - IN FULL BBC RADIO 3 AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE CINEMA SEASON ROYAL OPERA 2016-2017 SEASON - IN BRIEF Antonio Pappano renews … [Read more...] about ROYAL OPERA SEASON 2016 – 2017: theatre, cinema and radio
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings
The 100th birthday of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf falls on 9 December 2015. She died in 2006, but her recordings are a timeless treasure of the Warner Classics catalogue, like those of her contemporary and friend, Maria Callas. The 31-CD deluxe box set, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: The Complete Recitals 1952-1974, to be released on 6 November, gathers together all the recital programmes … [Read more...] about Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s 100th birthday celebrated with remastered recordings