Leaning on this timeless classic, the strong Principals of the Milanese company are bound to open the new season. New debut from Paris opera étoile Hugo Marchand.
MILAN, ITALY – After Balanchine/Robbins’ great success at Milan’s La Scala and all the principals involved in the three 20th-century masterpieces, the Ballet Season has drawn to a close.
But the city’s buzz continues apace, ready to immerse in the Christmas atmosphere and in the lights, but also in the shadows of Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker. Set to open the new Ballet Season 2024-2025 and return to the stage from 18 December to 12 January 2025, anticipated on 17 December by the customary Preview for young people, has already sold out like all the replicas.
Photograph: Brescia e Amisano ©
Photograph: Brescia e Amisano ©
A welcome return of one of the most interesting and technically demanding ballets in the classical repertoire, but also an important occasion to welcome the La Scala debut of Hugo Marchand, étoile of the Paris Opéra, and many of the protagonists who have illuminated the 2022/2023 performances in the role of Clara and the Prince/Drosselmeyer as Nicoletta Manni, Martina Arduino, Alice Mariani, Agnese Di Clemente, Timofej Andrijashenko, Claudio Coviello, Nicola del Freo, Navrin Turnbull and the debut in January in the title roles of Camilla Cerulli and Marco Agostino.
Hugo Marchand will open the performances with Alice Mariani (17, 18 and 20 December 2024); Agnese Di Clemente and Claudio Coviello will be on stage on 29 December 2024 and 4 January 2025; Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko will dance on 31 December 2024 and then the evenings of 3 and 5 January 2025.
Photograph: Brescia e Amisano ©
The afternoon of 5 January and then the evenings of 9 January will be the performances of Camilla Cerulli and Navrin Turnbull and on 7 and 11 January Marco Agostino and Martina Arduino. Virna Toppi and Nicola Del Freo will be given the final performances on 10 and 12 January.
Alongside them will be the Corps de Ballet, which will shine in the Christmas dances and above all in the marvellous choreographic designs of the famous waltzes, the soloists of the numerous dances, the students of the Ballet School and the Academy’s Children’s Choir, and, on the podium, conducting the La Scala Orchestra Valery Ovsyanikov.
by Chidozie Obasi