Gramilano

Writer and photographer in Milan, blog­ging about bal­let, opera, music and theatre for people who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like.

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[Review] Akram Khan’s Jungle Book reimagined – there’s lots to savour, but…

Matthew Paluch sees the London premiere of Akram Khan’s “Jungle Book reimagined”.

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Prix de Lausanne 2023 – the full lineup

The Prix de Lausanne 2023 50th anniversary complete programme, and the lineup for the Gala of the Stars

Prix de Lausanne 2020-01 The Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 will be given to Carlos Acosta CBE, a Prix de Lausanne Prize Winner in 1990 and current Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The Prix de Lausanne 2023 50th anniversary complete programme, finishing with a Gala of the Stars on Sunday, 5 February is now confirmed. Lifetime Achievement Award to Carlos Acosta At the end of the…

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https://www.gramilano.com/2023/01/alexei-ratmansky-new-york-city-ballet/(via Alexei Ratmansky joins New York City Ballet as Artist in Residence)

Alexei Ratmansky will join the New York City Ballet in August 2023 as Artist in Residence.

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The lonely father – Jonathan Gray reviews a new biography of the choreographer John Cranko

It is written with love for John Cranko but does not shy away from noting his insecurities, nor from stating that not all his ballets were works of genius.

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Sergei Polunin's Rasputin show in Milan is cancelled

Teatro Arcimboldi Milan announces the cancellation of Sergei Polunin'ss ballet Rasputin due to the pressing social and web mobilisation during the past few weeks.

Sergei Polunin in Rasputin After many weeks of indecision, the Teatro Arcimboldi Milan, where Sergei Polunin was due to have danced two performances of his dance work based on the story of Rasputin, has cancelled the performances with the following declaration. TAM, Teatro Arcimboldi Milan, announces the cancellation of the ballet “Rasputin – Dance Drama” scheduled for 28 and 29 January 2023.…

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The Bolshoi Theatre’s Ballet Day online

The Bolshoi Theatre will host its annual live stream of dance on its YouTube channel on the eve of World Ballet Day.

The Russian theatres will not be taking part in World Ballet Day on 2 November, but The Bolshoi Theatre will host its annual live stream of dance on its YouTube channel on the eve of World Ballet Day. This year, the rehearsals of Don Quixote on the theatre’s main Historic Stage is one of the highlights of the company’s transmission where Kristina Kretova as Kitri and principal dancer Denis…

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The Australian Ballet brings Romeo and Juliet to audiences worldwide

Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet returns to The Australian Ballet and will be live streamed from Arts Centre Melbourne on 18 October 2022.

Romeo and Juliet – Sharni Spencer Callum Linnane photo – Jeff Busby, Australian Ballet Free tickets for lucky Gramilano newsletter subscribers After 19 years, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet returns to The Australian Ballet and will be live streamed from Arts Centre Melbourne to audiences all over the world on 18 October 2022. Dancers who grew up watching these roles performed by the company’s…

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[Interview] Royal Ballet’s Fumi Kaneko on her upcoming debut in Mayerling

The Royal Ballet's principal dancer Fumi Kaneko talks about preparing for her debut as Countess Marie Larisch in Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling.

Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov rehearse Mayerling. Photo by Dancers Diary, ROH 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 that evening when Vadim Muntagirov will be tackling Crown Prince Rudolf for the first time, Yasmine Naghdi will debut as…

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[Review] The Met’s Medea – a tour de force performance from Radvanovsky

Jonathan Gray sees Sondra Radvanovsky's "exciting, insightful, chilling, and terrifying" performance in the Met's intelligent new production of Medea.

Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role of Cherubini’s Medea. Photo by Marty Sohl, Met Opera Guest author Jonathan Gray sees the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Medea TitleMedeaCompanyThe Metropolitan OperaVenueMetropolitan Opera House, Lincoln CenterDate8 October 2022ReviewerJonathan Gray A scene from Cherubini’s Medea. Photo by Marty Sohl, Met Opera Medea strikes as much terror into the…

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[Review] German Cornejo's Tango After Dark: sizzling passion and pyrotechnic lifts

Guest author Matthew Paluch looks at German Cornejo's Tango After Dark at London's Peacock Theatre. A show of 'impeccable standard'.

Tango After Dark, credit Leo Mason Guest author Matthew Paluch looks at German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark at London’s Peacock Theatre TitleTango After DarkCompanyGerman Cornejo Dance CompanyVenuePeacock Theatre, LondonDate11 October 2022ReviewerMatthew Paluch If anyone mentions Astor Piazzolla I’m there in a flash. This has to do partly with wonderful argot memories of dancing Hans Van Manen’s…

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[Review] New York City Ballet’s strange bedfellows: Episodes and Vienna Waltzes

Guest author Jonathan Gray sees the New York City Ballet's 'All Balanchine II' programme: "Everyone is rewarded by Balanchine’s outstanding choreography."

Megan Fairchild and Anthony Huxley in George Balanchine’s Vienna Waltzes photo by Paul Kolnik Guest author Jonathan Gray sees New York City Ballet’s Episodes and Vienna Waltzes in New York. TitleAll Balanchine II – Episodes / Vienna WaltzesCompanyNew York City BalletVenueDavid H Koch Theater, New YorkDate5 October 2022ReviewerJonathan Gray Returning to the David H Koch Theater for a four-week…

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How MacMillan shapes Rudolf's women – The Royal Ballet in Mayerling

Guest author Matthew Paluch looks at the six main female characters who surround Crown Prince Rudolf in Macmillan's ballet Mayerling, now in cinemas worldwide.

Natalia Osipova as Mary Vetsera and Ryoichi Hirano as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling c 2018 ROH. Photograph by Helen Maybanks Guest author Matthew Paluch watches The Royal Ballet in Mayerling and ponders on how the six main female characters shape Crown Prince Rudolf and his demise. People always complain that ballet isn’t accessible, that it’s elitist. It would take a PhD and more to unpick…

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La Scala Ballet’s full and empty houses – Covid or cash?

Recent performances by La Scala's ballet company in the opera house and in venues around Milan have revealed some worrying problems.

Teatro alla Scala auditorium Recently at La Scala in Milan, I’ve heard many people saying that they are not booking in advance anymore as there are always discounted tickets on the day of the performance. Pre-Covid, this only happened for the oddest of contemporary mixed bills – never for a ballet like Onegin. Yet apart from the performances starring pulling-power dancers Marianela Nuñez and…

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[Review] Alexander Whitley Dance Company’s Anti-Body – dance theatre for the inquisitive mind

Guest author Matthew Paluch sees Alexander Whitley's Anti-Body: "Clever theatre makes you think as you observe."

Anti-Body, Alexander Whitley Dance Company, photo by Sodium Bullet Guest author Matthew Paluch sees Alexander Whitley’s Anti-Body “…life in a disembodied form…” Where are we? James Bond baddie rhetoric? The new Christopher Nolan blockbuster tagline? No, we’re in the Lilian Baylis Studio for Alexander Whitley Dance Company‘s newest work Anti-Body, which sees “the dancers become at once set,…

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Ten leading Bolshoi dancers suspended

Leading Bolshoi dancers have been suspended from upcoming performances in Moscow after participating in a gala in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan Gala poster with a photo of the Bolshoi Theatre and the company’s logo to the left Leading Bolshoi dancers have been suspended from upcoming performances in Moscow after participating in a gala in Uzbekistan. On their day off, the dancers were in Tashkent, the capital, at the invitation of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan. The Bolshoi dancers who…

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Royal Opera House Stream goes live with 130 titles

The Royal Opera House has launched its new streaming service with 45 performances and 85 behind-the-scenes features.

Vadim Muntagirov in rehearsal for Live from Covent Garden 20 June 2020 © 2020 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton The Royal Opera House has launched a streaming service that offers 45 performances from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera’s archives. Together with these are also 85 behind-the-scenes features, trailers, talks and Insights. Royal Opera House Stream costs £9.99 a month or £99…

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[Review] Pithecanthropus erectus: A celebration of nakedness and freedom

Four naked male dancers; a projection of a horse; meticulous lighting. Very little with which to conjure up such a magical hour of pure poetry.

Erectus, photo by Simone Cargnoni TitlePithecanthropus erectusCompanyCompagnia Abbondanza/BertoniVenueTeatro Elfo Puccini, Milan [Festival MilanOltre]Date30 September 2022ReviewerGraham Spicer Four naked male dancers; a proscenium-wide projection of a horse, with often extreme close-ups of its eye; a tumbling panel of silk; meticulous lighting; the sound of Charles Mingus’s 1956 celebrated jazz…

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