1907: Madame Tetrazzini conquerors London and her ‘rival’ Adelina Patti is...
In 1907 Madame Tetrazzini made a sensational début as Violetta in La Traviata at Covent Garden in London, where she was completely unknown, and from that point on she was an international operatic...
View ArticleBarbara Frittoli at La Scala: odd but nice
When the line up for a recital is a soprano, pianist and clarinetist one would assume that at a certain point all three would perform together. Not at La Scala when Barbara Frittoli gave her scheduled...
View ArticleDesirée Rancatore answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
versione in italiano Q&A When did you start singing? When I was 16, with my mother! I had been learning the violin, but without much enthusiasm. Why did you start singing? I was studying violin at...
View ArticleLa Traviata at La Scala — first glimpses
Today’s the day, tonight’s the night. Milan celebrates Saint Ambrose (Sant’Ambrogio) and La Scala celebrates Giuseppe Verdi with a new production of La Traviata to open its 2013–2014 season. This is no...
View ArticleLa Scala, 7 December 2013: La Traviata
La Scala’s new production of La Traviata left Giorgio Armani, and many others, feeling ‘perplexed’. Dmitri Tcherniakov’s designs and direction got some hearty booing from the loggionisti in the gods,...
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Stream Opera brings popular and rare delights to your PC
If you haven't heard of StreamOpera - and you're interested in opera - then visit their site to enrich your Christmas hols, as it is full of exciting and unusual titles which can be streamed to your...
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Maria Callas’ Annina returns to sing the same role after sixty years
Luisa Mandelli, who played Annina in Luchino Visconti’s La traviata at La Scala in 1955, is now 93 years old. Although a small role, she is remembered for her presence in this production not only...
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Marie Duplessis, at 23, inspired Dumas then Verdi; now 23-year-old Maria...
La traviata, an opera that has moved audiences to tears since its premiere in Venice in 1853, was based on a true story of prostitution, obsession and love. Marie Duplessis was born in 1824 to a...
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Angela Gheorghiu’s releases first studio recording in six years: Eternamente...
The studio recording – her first in six years – explores the generation of Italian composers that followed Verdi, including three duets with tenor Joseph Calleja Eternamente – The Verismo Album, Angela...
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Maria Callas on Stage – a new exhibition at La Scala
Maria Callas in scena – Gli anni alla Scala (Maria Callas on Stage – the La Scala Years) runs from 15 September to 31 January at La Scala’s museum, which is housed in the same building as the theatre....
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Lucas Meachem answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A When did you start singing? There’s not a time I don’t remember singing in some capacity. Why did you start singing? I have a need to perform and to share my love of music with others. Which...
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La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
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...
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Maria Callas’ Annina returns to sing the same role after sixty years
Luisa Mandelli, who played Annina in Luchino Visconti’s La traviata at La Scala in 1955, is now 93 years old. Although a small role, she is remembered for her presence in this production not only...
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La Scala and the artists of La traviata donate proceeds to earthquake victims
La traviata returns to La Scala in Liliana Cavani’s beautiful 1990 production with sets by three-time Oscar winner Dante Ferretti, and the sumptuous costumes of Gabriella Pescucci. As always, the run...
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Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
The staging of La traviata is the lavish Liliana Cavani production with sets by Dante Ferretti with which Verdi’s masterpiece returned to La Scala in 1990 conducted by Riccardo Muti. It was performed...
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14 minutes of applause for Anna Netrebko at La Scala in La traviata...
Anna Netrebko has returned to La Scala to sing Violetta as she sings ‘addio’ to the role. She will sing in a Traviata once more in Paris next February, and then that’s it for the curvy Russian and the...
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Maria Mudryak answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Q&A in italiano When did you start singing? My first performance was when I was three years old, then when I was five I started my musical training, and at six I recorded my first CD featuring...
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Interview with Juan Diego Flórez who debuts in Ricciardo e Zoraide at Pesaro...
Twenty-two years ago, Juan Diego Flórez arrived like a meteorite across the opera firmament. A couple of weeks before his career launching performance, I’d met the young tenor in Milan. He’d flown over...
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Luisa Mandelli, Maria Callas’ Annina at La Scala, has died at 95
Luisa Mandelli, Maria Callas’ Annina at La Scala, died last night, just short of her 96th birthday. Daniel Barenboim called her the ‘eternal Annina’ having sung alongside Callas in Luchino Visconti’s...
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Interview: Carmen Giannattasio on her first Tosca, Lady Gaga, and homicide
Soprano Carmen Giannattasio has been in demand since she was thrust before the public eye when she won both the First Prize and the Audience Award at Placido Domingo’s Operalia in Paris in 2002. She...
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