International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance. It has been celebrated each year since 1982 on 29 April, which is the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges … [Read more...] about La Scala’s principal dancers to celebrate International Dance Day
Timofej Andrijashenko
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 … [Read more...] about Review: Giselle at La Scala with Zakharova/Hallberg, Manni/Andrijashenko, Valerio/Coviello
Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
The latest issue of Dancing Times is out tomorrow. In September’s issue, I cover Wayne McGregor’s “amazing” Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri giving a “frighteningly intense” performance … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, September edition – with Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column including Woolf Works at La Scala and a Glass triple bill in Rome
In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
If there is a ballet that belongs to La Scala, it’s Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, created for the ballet company in 1966 with Carla Fracci and Nureyev in the main roles. It was … [Read more...] about In with the old – La Scala returns to Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty
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 … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet Season 2019 – 2020
McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
The La Scala Ballet usually fields a first cast, and several alternative casts, but not with Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works – here it was very much a case of a first cast and a second cast. The first … [Read more...] about McGregor’s Woolf Works thrills and enthralls at La Scala
La Scala’s Timofej Andrijashenko to guest as Romeo with The Royal Ballet
La Scala Principal Dancer Timofej Andrijashenko will dance Romeo at The Royal Opera House in London on 27 April and 4 May alongside Melissa Hamilton. The director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare, … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Timofej Andrijashenko to guest as Romeo with The Royal Ballet
First photos of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri, Federico Bonelli and Company dancers
These are the first photos of La Scala's restaging of Wayne McGregor's Woolf Works created for The Royal Ballet in 2015. The work was seen again in London in 2017, and in Milan, two of the original … [Read more...] about First photos of Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works at La Scala with Alessandra Ferri, Federico Bonelli and Company dancers
In Balanchine’s Nutcracker at La Scala the magic is almost real – three casts reviewed
Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is new to La Scala, in fact, new to Italy. And how the Scala regulars were relishing in the opportunity to grumble and mutter “humbug” during the interval. It’s certainly … [Read more...] about In Balanchine’s Nutcracker at La Scala the magic is almost real – three casts reviewed
Designs and rehearsal photos of La Scala’s new production of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker opens the ballet season at La Scala. The new production has sets and costumes by Italian designer Margherita Palli. 15 December 2018: Preview performance for … [Read more...] about Designs and rehearsal photos of La Scala’s new production of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Illustrated look at La Scala’s visit to Australia with Don Quixote and Giselle
After almost a month touring China, La Scala’s ballet company popped back to Milan for a run of Manon performances, before popping off to Australia for thirteen performances in Brisbane, from 7 to 18 … [Read more...] about Illustrated look at La Scala’s visit to Australia with Don Quixote and Giselle
Danza in Italia column returns in the latest issue of Dancing Times
The latest issue of Dancing Times magazine, November 2018, is being shipped to newstands as I write. The new Danza in Italia column looks at Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote at Teatro alla Scala, with … [Read more...] about Danza in Italia column returns in the latest issue of Dancing Times
Photo album – fifteen evenings of La Scala Ballet in China
La Scala’s Ballet Company have been touring China for almost a month, taking in four cities and dancing 15 performances of Don Quixote and Giselle. Last night’s performance of Giselle in the Grand … [Read more...] about Photo album – fifteen evenings of La Scala Ballet in China
Dancing Times, August 2018 out now – including latest Danza in Italia column
The latest Dancing Times magazine is now on sale. The August 2018 issue contains my latest Danza in Italia column with thoughts on the new Le Corsaire by Anna-Marie Holmes at La Scala, with company … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, August 2018 out now – including latest Danza in Italia column
Don Quixote shows off first-rate dancing by La Scala’s clutch of 20-somethings
Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote is a romp. From start to finish it zips along at a frenetic pace, with frenetic steps. That is, except the prologue — Don Quixote’s house — and a prolonged mime scene in … [Read more...] about Don Quixote shows off first-rate dancing by La Scala’s clutch of 20-somethings
Photo Album: Don Quixote at La Scala with with Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko
In 1959, Rudolf Nureyev, with Ninel Kourgapkina as Kitri, danced Basilio for the first time at the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad. He was 20. After he defected to the West in 1961, the role became his … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Don Quixote at La Scala with with Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko
Sneak peek of Don Quixote at La Scala – photos from today’s dress rehearsal
Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote returns again to La Scala with many of the company's newer Principals and Soloists making role debuts. Tomorrow night's cast - and that of this afternoon's dress … [Read more...] about Sneak peek of Don Quixote at La Scala – photos from today’s dress rehearsal
Le Corsaire docks at La Scala – many delights with a company on top form
Anna-Marie Holmes created her version of Le Corsaire for Boston ballet in 1997. A year later it arrived in New York when it was loaned out to the American Ballet Theatre. Italian dancer Giuseppe … [Read more...] about Le Corsaire docks at La Scala – many delights with a company on top form
Serata Nureyev – An Evening for Nureyev at La Scala: full casting with Zakharova, Bolle, Nuñez, Louvet, Muntagirov
24*, 25, 26, 29 May 2018 Serata Nureyev – An Evening for Nureyev Remembering the 80th Anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev's birth, 25 years after his death with Corps de ballet of La Scala, Director … [Read more...] about Serata Nureyev – An Evening for Nureyev at La Scala: full casting with Zakharova, Bolle, Nuñez, Louvet, Muntagirov
Photo Album 2: Le Corsaire opens tonight at La Scala – here are some preview photos of this lavish new production
Italian designer Luisa Spinatelli has created scenes and designed 180 costumes for a new production of Le Corsaire at La Scala. [see PHOTO ALBUM 1 - LE CORSAIRE] Anne-Marie Holmes first staged the … [Read more...] about Photo Album 2: Le Corsaire opens tonight at La Scala – here are some preview photos of this lavish new production
Photo album: A first look at La Scala’s new production of Le Corsaire (opens 20 April)
Italian designer Luisa Spinatelli has created scenes and designed 180 costumes for a new production of Le Corsaire at La Scala. Anna-Marie Holmes, who has already staged the ballet at the American … [Read more...] about Photo album: A first look at La Scala’s new production of Le Corsaire (opens 20 April)
Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations are lovingly performed by La Scala’s excellent cast
Legend goes that Bach wrote his Goldberg Variations for the Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony, Count Kaiserling. The Count suffered from insomnia and had Johann Gottlieb Goldberg on … [Read more...] about Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations are lovingly performed by La Scala’s excellent cast
Photo album: first look at Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations at La Scala
"Every time I listen to Bach I feel my heart jumps a beat. His music is for me an inexhaustible source of inspiration and has been since my early twenties, which was even before, in Düsseldorf, when I … [Read more...] about Photo album: first look at Heinz Spoerli’s Goldberg Variations at La Scala
Zakharova, Bolle and Manni are excellent Principals in La Dame aux Camélias, but Andrijashenko steals the show at La Scala
Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle have both danced the lead roles in John Neumeier's La Dame aux Camélias, but never together. La Scala united its two Étoiles for the opening of its ballet season. … [Read more...] about Zakharova, Bolle and Manni are excellent Principals in La Dame aux Camélias, but Andrijashenko steals the show at La Scala
The extraordinary talent of Marianela Nuñez dominates Onegin at La Scala
The extraordinary talent of Marianela Nuñez dominated this performance of Onegin at La Scala. From her opening, distracted scenes to her final act of resolve, Tatiana’s emotional arc was perfectly … [Read more...] about The extraordinary talent of Marianela Nuñez dominates Onegin at La Scala
Ratmansky’s Swan Lake delights once again at La Scala: music and choreography restored
Such was La Scala’s confidence in Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake that even before its premiere in Milan in June 2016 — the co-production with Zurich had had its world premiere four months earlier — it … [Read more...] about Ratmansky’s Swan Lake delights once again at La Scala: music and choreography restored
Mauro Bigonzetti’s Progetto Händel, with Zakharova and Bolle, wows La Scala
Mauro Bigonzetti’s Progetto Händel is intimate, expressive and beautiful to watch. Yes, for La Scala at least, it is low-cost – an EasyJet ballet – and you could see something similar with another … [Read more...] about Mauro Bigonzetti’s Progetto Händel, with Zakharova and Bolle, wows La Scala
First look at La valse – Symphony in C – Shéhérazade, opening tonight at La Scala
The new triple bill which opens at La Scala this evening is unique indeed! It features a new version of Ravel’s La valse by three choreographers, all dancers with the company. Stranger still is … [Read more...] about First look at La valse – Symphony in C – Shéhérazade, opening tonight at La Scala
La Scala Ballet returns to Paris with Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
After the success in Milan before the summer, La Scala now takes Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake to Paris for six performances at the Palais des Congrès. The production was coproduced with the Opernhaus … [Read more...] about La Scala Ballet returns to Paris with Ratmansky’s Swan Lake
Martina Arduino in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – a ballet star is born at La Scala?
If you visit NASA’s website, they define a protostar as the “hot core at the heart of the collapsing cloud that will one day become a star”. 19-year-old Martina Arduino, who graduated from La … [Read more...] about Martina Arduino in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – a ballet star is born at La Scala?
