Despite coronavirus restrictions, La Scala will celebrate the opening of its season 2020-2021 – however long or short it may be – on 7 December, the feast of Saint Ambrose, Milan’s saint’s day. The evening, A riveder le stelle (Seeing the Stars Again), will be broadcast live by Rai Cultura on Italian television’s Rai 1 at 5pm, as well as Arte and other platforms. Riccardo … [Read more...] about La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December
music & opera
Plácido Domingo cancels Italian dates for health problems
Plácido Domingo has cancelled his Italian commitments in November due to a health problem that has arisen in the last few hours. The unnamed problem prohibits him from travelling and working, therefore he has cancelled his participation as a singer in the Donizetti Opera Festival in Bergamo – though he has promised to return soon – as well as conductor for a performance of … [Read more...] about Plácido Domingo cancels Italian dates for health problems
Royal Opera House announces live performance broadcasts during November lockdown
The Royal Opera House has announced a series of live performance broadcasts, together with some repertory favourites from both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, throughout the November lockdown period. Opera A live-streamed concert performance of Ariodante will be broadcast on on Friday 20 November at 7.30pm GMT, available … [Read more...] about Royal Opera House announces live performance broadcasts during November lockdown
La Scala cancels its famous opening night of the opera season
The Board of Directors of Teatro alla Scala met today and, due to the current epidemiological situation and the continually tightening regulatory framework, has decided to cancel the planned opening of the 2020-2021 season at the opera house. It understood that the conditions do not exist to rehearse and produce a production which would be open to the public and also be … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels its famous opening night of the opera season
Italian theatre closures: an appeal from Riccardo Muti
Muti Riccardo and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra photo by Todd Rosenberg … [Read more...] about Italian theatre closures: an appeal from Riccardo Muti
Theatres to close in Italy from tomorrow
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, has announced that from tomorrow until (at least) the 24 November all theatres and concert halls will close. This is due to the rapidly escalating numbers of coronavirus cases in the country. Restaurants and bars will close at 6pm, and gyms (including dancing schools, centres for Pilates and Gyrotonic etc), swimming pools and … [Read more...] about Theatres to close in Italy from tomorrow
With Milan under curfew, Jonas Kaufmann sings La Scala programme without pause
The curfew which was introduced in parts of Italy yesterday to combat the rising rate of coronavirus infections started at 11pm. While it is possible to return from a theatre after this time, it is necessary to carry a form to explain the reason you are out, and it was doubtful that many in the audience at La Scala would have been prepared on the first day – I wasn't. Jonas … [Read more...] about With Milan under curfew, Jonas Kaufmann sings La Scala programme without pause
Aida suspended as entire La Scala company sent home in quarantine
After tenor Francesco Meli tested positive for Covid-19 and was substituted yesterday by Jonas Kaufmann, La Scala arranged for the whole Aida cast to be tested. The first of the swab tests was negative for the whole company, but this morning there was a positive result from the second swab. The theatre alerted the health authorities who ordered a period of quarantine … [Read more...] about Aida suspended as entire La Scala company sent home in quarantine
Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus
Tenor Francesco Meli has tested positive for coronavirus, though he is asymptomatic. Tonight's last concert performance of Aida at La Scala should have seen Meli as Radamès, instead the role will be sung by Jonas Kaufmann who is in town for a recital at the opera house on Thursday. Riccardo Chailly will conduct the performance which also features Saioa Hernández as Aida and … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus
La Scala cancels today’s 2020/2021 season announcement amid Covid fears
La Scala announced several days ago that it wouldn't be issuing season tickets this year as planning a whole season would be unwise. The theatre announced that instead, today, at 11.30, it would announce programming from the beginning of the season - 7 December - until March 2021. However, this morning La Scala decided to cancel its online press conference. In view of the … [Read more...] about La Scala cancels today’s 2020/2021 season announcement amid Covid fears