La Scala records the last artists for tonight’s opening gala

Yesterday Roberto Alagna, Aleksandra Kurzak and Lisette Oropesa recorded their sections of tonight's opening gala at La Scala (5pm CET) and today Camilla Nylund, Andreas Schager, Francesco Meli and Plácido Domingo recorded their contributions which concludes a series of rehearsals and filming over the last few days which has seen some of opera's greatest names pass through Milan.

This afternoon, Domingo was the last to record his contribution to “… a riveder le stelle”, singing “Nemico della patria” from Andrea Chénier. Earlier, soprano Camilla Nylund and the tenor Andreas Schager sang the duet “Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond” from Die Walküre, the only piece by Richard Wagner on the programme. The tenor Francesco Meli, who recently sang with Domingoin I due Foscari in Montecarlo, recorded an aria sung by Riccardo in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.

In 2019, Domingo celebrated the 50th anniversary of his debut at La Scala, and today's participation marks his tenth opening night of the season. The opening night is always on 7 December – the feast of Saint Ambrose, the patron of Milan – and in 1968 Domingo sang in Ernani, conducted by Antonino Votto. In 1976 he was Otello conducted by Carlos Kleiber and directed by Franco Zeffirelli, with Mirella Freni as Desdemona, which was the first live television broadcast from La Scala. Domingo was Otello again in 2001 with Barbara Frittoli and Riccardo Muti; it was his ninth December 7th.

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.