Graham Watts talks to Hope Muir, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, on the eve of the company’s London performances. Several years ago, the outstanding South African dancer, Dane … [Read more...] about Interview: Still on an upward trajectory, the career of National Ballet of Canada’s Hope Muir – a “collector of ideas and people”
top interviews
Interview: Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra on Mariposa – a Queer Tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra talks to Paul Arrowsmith ahead of the UK tour of Mariposa – "Adapting opera into non-verbal dance was an exciting, but certainly difficult." Nicknamed ‘the Pedro … [Read more...] about Interview: Choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra on Mariposa – a Queer Tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
Interview: Italian artist Cris Devil – creating his artistic world with irony and passion
Italian visual artist Cris Devil has music and movement (and occasionally dance too) at the centre of his work. Guitars are everywhere – as motifs on walls and floors or flying through the air. His … [Read more...] about Interview: Italian artist Cris Devil – creating his artistic world with irony and passion
Interview: Jennie Muskett – the Emmy-winning film composer seeking a new career writing music for dance
Graham Watts interviews composer Jennie Muskett – “I see myself as a storyteller in music.” The first worldwide tour of the revived London City Ballet, under the dynamic leadership of Christopher … [Read more...] about Interview: Jennie Muskett – the Emmy-winning film composer seeking a new career writing music for dance
Interview: Artistic Director Christopher Marney on reviving London City Ballet – small is beautiful
Christopher Marney is a brave man. At a time when many dance companies are struggling economically, Marney has revived London City Ballet, a company founded in 1978 by Harold King, a personable South … [Read more...] about Interview: Artistic Director Christopher Marney on reviving London City Ballet – small is beautiful
Interview: Roberto Bolle on turning 50 – I want to bring all those years to the stage
Next year, Roberto Bolle turns 50. Even so, it’s not hard to remember the rather shy student at La Scala’s school with an ear-to-ear grin as he’s retained much of that boyish quality. In fact, when … [Read more...] about Interview: Roberto Bolle on turning 50 – I want to bring all those years to the stage
Interview with mezzo soprano Rihab Chaieb – from goths to Mozart, Tunisia to Glyndebourne – a life of contrast
Rihab Chaieb is about to complete her 11-performance run of Carmen at Glyndebourne, the opening production of the 2024 season. She has scored a remarkable personal success in the title role. The … [Read more...] about Interview with mezzo soprano Rihab Chaieb – from goths to Mozart, Tunisia to Glyndebourne – a life of contrast
[Interview] Six quick questions for Derek Deane on the opening of his “Swan Lake in-the-round” in London
Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round was commissioned by English National Ballet in 1997 and has since been seen by over 500,000 people worldwide. It will be seen again in London’s vast Royal Albert … [Read more...] about [Interview] Six quick questions for Derek Deane on the opening of his “Swan Lake in-the-round” in London
Ten years of interviewing Royal Ballet dancers, designers, choreographers, ballet masters and its director
Preparing for another 'Royal Ballet interview' this morning, made me realise how many interviews we've published on gramilano.com with dancers, designers, ballet masters, choreographers, and the … [Read more...] about Ten years of interviewing Royal Ballet dancers, designers, choreographers, ballet masters and its director
[Interview] Tamas Detrich’s first five years as director of Stuttgart Ballet
Tamas Detrich’s career with Stuttgart Ballet spans over 45 years, first as a dancer, later as a ballet master, artistic associate then associate artistic director. He became artistic director of the … [Read more...] about [Interview] Tamas Detrich’s first five years as director of Stuttgart Ballet
[Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
The current run of Les contes d’Hoffmann at La Scala sees soprano Eleonora Buratto making her debut as Antonia. After the opening night, I asked her how she was settling into her new role. It's a … [Read more...] about [Interview] Talking with soprano Eleonora Buratto about Hoffmann, perfume and spumante
La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
La Scala doesn’t ‘do’ Nutcrackers for Christmas. Its last two productions during the Christmas period were La Bayadère and Sylvia. It flirted briefly with a version of The Nutcracker by Nacho Duato in … [Read more...] about La Scala principal dancer Claudio Coviello on dancing in Nureyev’s Nutcracker
[Interview] Royal Ballet’s Fumi Kaneko on her upcoming debut in Mayerling
The Royal Ballet’s long run of Mayerling proceeds with many debuts, including that of Fumi Kaneko who will be dancing Countess Larisch for the first time on 21 October. There are many other debuts … [Read more...] about [Interview] Royal Ballet’s Fumi Kaneko on her upcoming debut in Mayerling
[Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs
Cristina Pavarotti, 58, is Luciano Pavarotti’s second child, and will be in Los Angeles on 24 August for the positioning her father’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the accompanying … [Read more...] about [Interview] Luciano Pavarotti’s daughter talks about life with the King of the High Cs
[Interview] Rolando Villazón: My enemy was anxiety.
Rolando Villazón works now as a writer, an artistic director, and director, with singing talking a secondary role. “My enemy was anxiety, fragility, and a lack of confidence. It's not a question of … [Read more...] about [Interview] Rolando Villazón: My enemy was anxiety.
Breaking the LORE: Wayne McGregor on his new dance work at La Scala
More rehearsal photos below Today is the 140th anniversary of the birth of Igor Stravinsky, so what a perfect day to meet Wayne McGregor and find out more about his two-part Stravinsky programme … [Read more...] about Breaking the LORE: Wayne McGregor on his new dance work at La Scala
[Interview] Tenor Francesco Meli – 20 years of “not taking anything for granted”
Italian tenor Francesco Meli has a lot to celebrate. Last weekend he sang his last performance as Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera at La Scala – it is his 20th role at La Scala and this year also … [Read more...] about [Interview] Tenor Francesco Meli – 20 years of “not taking anything for granted”
Ukrainian ballerina Anna Muromtseva: Escaping from Kyiv
Anna Muromtseva is a principal dancer of the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv. She spoke to dancer and blogger Marta Molinari about her odyssey escaping from the bombing of Kyiv, where she lived and … [Read more...] about Ukrainian ballerina Anna Muromtseva: Escaping from Kyiv
Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala, on the new streaming service, Russia, and audiences
Well, we have a profit of €300,000 - says Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala - Of course, there were surprises during the year and in September the theatre was still not open at full capacity, so could … [Read more...] about Dominique Meyer, CEO of La Scala, on the new streaming service, Russia, and audiences
[Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”
When I was three, I was already living out stories in my head and had the feeling of another reality calling me. Even though my parents didn't go to the theatre, I said, “I want to go to dance … [Read more...] about [Interview] Alessandra Ferri, part two: “When dance saved me”
[Interview] Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi Ballet – Everyone must deal with their conscience
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper, Olga Smirnova – the courageously outspoken Bolshoi star who has left Russia to join the Dutch National Ballet – talked about her bold … [Read more...] about [Interview] Olga Smirnova on leaving the Bolshoi Ballet – Everyone must deal with their conscience
[Interview] “Me and my voice” American tenor Michael Fabiano on music and other passions
American tenor Michael Fabiano will make an important role debut and house debut on 22 March when he sings Calaf in Turandot at the Rome Opera. “I’ve been preparing it for years,” he told me. “Many … [Read more...] about [Interview] “Me and my voice” American tenor Michael Fabiano on music and other passions
Touché! Les Étoiles gala features a homosexual pas de deux
The Les Ètoiles gala in Rome (30 and 31 January 2022) will present some usual gala fare with the Don Quixote and Swan Lake pas de deux, and as always with this annual event there will be contemporary … [Read more...] about Touché! Les Étoiles gala features a homosexual pas de deux
Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star
It’s full steam ahead for The Royal Ballet’s Anna Rose O’Sullivan. Last year she was promoted to the rank of principal dancer with the company, in January of this year she made her debut as the Sugar … [Read more...] about Anna Rose O’Sullivan – meeting the Royal Ballet’s newest star
[Interview] Choreographer Hervé Koubi – If we can dance together, we can live together
The Hervé Koubi Company recently brought three works to Milan, which I described as being “touching, theatrical and important”. It is the essence of Hervé Koubi’s creative output, producing dance … [Read more...] about [Interview] Choreographer Hervé Koubi – If we can dance together, we can live together
Taming Our Trauma – creating inclusive and tolerant spaces for dancers
Principal dancer István Simon is a man with a mission. He founded Praetorian Non-Profit Art and Health Consulting and the project Taming Our Trauma “with the aim to enable a safe and creative … [Read more...] about Taming Our Trauma – creating inclusive and tolerant spaces for dancers
[Interview] Baritone Sebastian Catana: never scream or shout
Romanian-born baritone Sebastian Catana is well-known for his Verdi roles, but he has recently made his debut as Tonio in Pagliacci in Verona’s Arena to great acclaim, and now he’s singing the part at … [Read more...] about [Interview] Baritone Sebastian Catana: never scream or shout
Sergei Polunin: 700 years of inferno, purgatory and paradise
The Ravenna Festival has commissioned a new dance piece, Dante Metànoia, with choreography for Purgatory by Sergei Polunin, Inferno by Ross Freddie Ray and Paradiso by Jiří Bubeníček. The sole dancer … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin: 700 years of inferno, purgatory and paradise
Soprano Katia Ricciarelli to be contestant in Big Brother TV reality show
Katia Ricciarelli will be one of the contestants in the new series of Italy’s Grande fratello VIP. It’s not her first experience in such a programme, having participated in La fattoria (The Farm) in … [Read more...] about Soprano Katia Ricciarelli to be contestant in Big Brother TV reality show
Juan Diego Flórez interview: my 25 years with Rossini
Twenty-five years ago, Gramilano met a young Peruvian tenor in Milan. He was on his way to sing a small role in 'Ricciardo e Zoraide' at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro and was bright-eyed with … [Read more...] about Juan Diego Flórez interview: my 25 years with Rossini