Milanese ballerina Alessandra Ferri has been featured countless times in the Italian newspapers the past month, apropos of her forthcoming, ultimate departure from the stage. She had announced late October 2006 that her retirement from the world of ballet was imminent after dancing for 22-years with the ABT in NYC (and after making steady appearances in Milan as a permanent guest artist at La Scala...OC saw her last February 2006 in the Mario Pistoni/Nino Rota/Federico Fellini La Strada production as Gelsomina).
Since March 20, 2007’s la prima of La dame aux Camélias here at La Scala, Ferri is currently winding-down the last two performances of her final stage appearances in Italy, and Opera Chic has been lucky enough to book one of these remaining shows. omg yay yay yay! Even better is that her interpretation of Marguerite Gautier will be accompanied by Roberto Bolle’s Armand Duval. mad stylin'
Ferri’s last stage performance ev4r will be dancing later this summer in New York City. On Saturday, June 23, 2007, she will wave a final goodbye to the world of dance in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet opposite Roberto Bolle with the American Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Ferri had been mulling-over the decision to quit dancing for quite a while. She states that doesn't really have plans for the future, but hints that she wants to dedicate time to her family and young children. Husband Fabrizio Ferri, an Italian photographer, was frequently seen at La Scala when his wife was performing...also responsible for taking the photograph of his wife that begins this post.
The ballerina admits in interview that her one regret is that she never was able to work with George Balanchine. Maybe she'll spend her retirement building a time machine.
This current La Scala production of La Dame aux Camélias is a new staging, choreographed by John Neumeier, following the production of the München Bayerische Staatsoper, and set to Frédérik Chopin.
OC has heard mixed reviews, but will be there tonight to report first-hand the glory of Ferri and Bolle. Unfortunately, it must be stated that Bolle is costumed in a full faux tuxedo: spandex black pants and jacket (and one lovely reader had graciously forwarded OC some images from la prima which corroborates the tragedy). sigh. We can't will them all, can we?
La Repubblica and Corriere articles on Ferri from a few weeks ago:
