Callas Casual: An Off-Duty-ish Day in the Company of La Divina

(Callas enshrouded in reporters. Credit: Maurice Zalewski/ADOC photos)   Vignettes of onstage outtakes are aplenty. Daily shots of the soprano, less so. Here’s a peek into Maria’s typical excursions—culinary and sartorial; social and cultural—on a work(not really)less day. Coruscating like the crystalline intrusion of a cocktail dress’ brooch asparkle in a parking lot; a spotlight pooling blindness onto “Poliuto”‘s Paolina; {…}

Teatro alla Scala Opening Night 2016-17: Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau Featured in 5 Memorable La Scala Inaugurations of Last 10 Years

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the legendary Teatro all Scala opens its 2016-17 season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” The opera stars rising star Maria Jose Siri, Bryan Hymel and Carlos Alvarez and is led by music director Riccardo Chailly. The opening continues La Scala’s tradition of inaugurating the season on Dec. 7 and continues Chailly’s Puccini cycle, which he began back {…}