In August 1943, Milan was bombed by Allied planes. On the night between 15 and 16 August the city centre and the Teatro alla Scala were seriously damaged. A photographic exhibition, La Scala Reborn … [Read more...] about Milan celebrates 80th Anniversary of La Scala’s reopening after devastating World War II bombing
Francesco Meli
La Scala presents its Opera Season 2025-2026
The Opera Season 2025-2026 opens with a harsh, stark opera that “assaults the viewer, tightening them in a knot of violence and despair”. Written by Shostakovich in 1934 and inspired by Leskov’s … [Read more...] about La Scala presents its Opera Season 2025-2026
La Scala announces its 2024-2025 Opera Season
La Scala in Milan has announced it's opera programming for the 2024-2025 season. The inaugural title of the 2024-2025 season, La forza del destino – one of Verdi’s most important and complex works – … [Read more...] about La Scala announces its 2024-2025 Opera Season
La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024
The 2023-2024 Opera Season of the Teatro alla Scala will present 14 productions, 10 of which are new: 2 operas by Giuseppe Verdi and 2 by Giacomo Puccini, and one opera each by Antonio Cesti, Luigi … [Read more...] about La Scala Opera Season 2023-2024
[Interview] Tenor Francesco Meli – 20 years of “not taking anything for granted”
Italian tenor Francesco Meli has a lot to celebrate. Last weekend he sang his last performance as Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera at La Scala – it is his 20th role at La Scala and this year also … [Read more...] about [Interview] Tenor Francesco Meli – 20 years of “not taking anything for granted”
La Scala’s Macbeth – comments and photo album
Macbeth, which opened the opera season at La Scala on 7 December, was watched by 10.5% of Italians who were watching the television, equivalent to 2,640,000 people. Italy's President, Sergio … [Read more...] about La Scala’s Macbeth – comments and photo album
La Scala 2021-2022 Opera Season and new philosophy
Despite the interruptions imposed by lockdowns and outbreaks of disease during the Season 2020-2021 La Scala managed to put on over 100 performances. The various closures also gave the theatre’s … [Read more...] about La Scala 2021-2022 Opera Season and new philosophy
Free streamed opera concert, live from La Scala in Milan
Nicola Luisotti will be on the podium for a free streamed opera concert from La Scala in Milan, on Wednesday 24 March at 8 pm CET, which will be broadcast live via Teatro alla Scala’s website, and … [Read more...] about Free streamed opera concert, live from La Scala in Milan
Arena Opera Festival in Verona confirms the 2021 summer programme
The Arena Opera Festival has confirmed the dates, operas, and stellar casts as originally scheduled, starting with the return of Riccardo Muti, 41 years after his only appearance on the Arena’s … [Read more...] about Arena Opera Festival in Verona confirms the 2021 summer programme
La Scala’s online programming of recitals and concerts opens with Vittorio Grigolo
La Scala’s online concert and recital events for February and March 2021 The concerts can be followed via Teatro alla Scala's website, and its Facebook and YouTube pages. Recitals The Recital … [Read more...] about La Scala’s online programming of recitals and concerts opens with Vittorio Grigolo
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 … [Read more...] about La Scala records the last artists for tonight’s opening gala
La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December
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 … [Read more...] about La Scala welcomes back its stars – season opening 7 December
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 … [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 … [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 … [Read more...] about Jonas Kaufmann steps in at La Scala as tenor Francesco Meli tests positive for coronavirus
The experience of returning to a socially-distanced La Scala
The usual throng found buzzing under the portico outside La Scala while waiting for the doors to open, was replaced by a slow trickle of spectators. The theatre had opened a full hour before curtain … [Read more...] about The experience of returning to a socially-distanced La Scala
Tonight, La Scala reopens its doors after 133 days
It is 133 days since La Scala went dark. Tonight, its doors will open once again, for a limited number of spectators – 600 instead of 2,000 – for a short series of concerts. Positioning in the … [Read more...] about Tonight, La Scala reopens its doors after 133 days
Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has announced an at-home concert featuring some of the world’s greatest opera stars. A concert on 1 May at 9 pm (21.00 CEST - 15.00 EDT - 20.00 BST), organised by … [Read more...] about Bartoli, Grigolo, Damrau et al will sing live from their homes tonight
Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
The conductor Nello Santi has died at 88. He last worked at La Scala in November 2017, when he was 86, conducting Nabucco. He was born in 1931 in Adria in the Veneto region. He was the director of … [Read more...] about Conductor Nello Santi – who conducted 401 performances at The Met – has died at 88
Photo Album: First night at La Scala with Netrebko, Meli and Salsi in Tosca
Conductor Riccardo Chailly Staging Davide Livermore Sets Giò Forma Costumes Gianluca Falaschi Lights Antonio Castro Video D-wok CAST Tosca Anna … [Read more...] about Photo Album: First night at La Scala with Netrebko, Meli and Salsi in Tosca
Interview with Anna Netrebko on Tosca at La Scala: kissing, killing, and Kabaivanska
Anna Netrebko opens the new season at La Scala – as each year, on 7 December – as Tosca. It will be her fourth time in what is always a prestigious occasion (Italy’s President and other dignitaries … [Read more...] about Interview with Anna Netrebko on Tosca at La Scala: kissing, killing, and Kabaivanska
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020
After Riccardo Chailly opens the season with Tosca, continuing the cycle of works by Puccini, he will conduct his first Strauss opera, as well as the complete Beethoven symphonies. Zubin Mehta will … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2019 – 2020
Interview: Angel Blue at La Scala “It will never happen… not a black Violetta.”
When she was twenty, Angel Blue’s singing teacher told her, “I’m sorry, but it will never happen. There will never be a black Violetta.” Now she’s at La Scala singing that very role. It’s not the … [Read more...] about Interview: Angel Blue at La Scala “It will never happen… not a black Violetta.”
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
OPERA SEASON 2018 - 2019 La Scala announced its 2018-2019 Opera season today with 15 titles, nine of which are new productions, and two are La Scala premieres. At the heart of the season remains the … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2018 – 2019
La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
A pleasing new season at La Scala seems to tick all the right boxes, with half the programming dedicated to the Italian repertoire, some rarities, important international operas and a world premiere. … [Read more...] about La Scala, Milan: Opera and Recital Season 2017 – 2018
14 minutes of applause for Anna Netrebko at La Scala in La traviata [interview and photos]
Anna Netrebko has returned to La Scala to sing Violetta as she sings ‘addio’ to the role. She will sing in a Traviata once more in Paris next February, and then that’s it for the curvy Russian and the … [Read more...] about 14 minutes of applause for Anna Netrebko at La Scala in La traviata [interview and photos]
Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
The staging of La traviata is the lavish Liliana Cavani production with sets by Dante Ferretti with which Verdi’s masterpiece returned to La Scala in 1990 conducted by Riccardo Muti. It was performed … [Read more...] about Traviata opens tonight at La Scala… here’s a sneak peek
La Scala and the artists of La traviata donate proceeds to earthquake victims
La traviata returns to La Scala in Liliana Cavani’s beautiful 1990 production with sets by three-time Oscar winner Dante Ferretti, and the sumptuous costumes of Gabriella Pescucci. As always, the run … [Read more...] about La Scala and the artists of La traviata donate proceeds to earthquake victims
La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company embark on a month-long tour
La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company have flown out of Milan for a month on tour which will see them in Korea, China, Japan and Russia. Tomorrow night at the Lotte Hall in Seoul, … [Read more...] about La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company embark on a month-long tour
La Scala Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 – full dates and interpreters
The concert programme includes some of the greatest living conductors. Riccardo Chailly will be on the podium for two evenings of the Symphony Season, Verdi’s Requiem in October, and the concert to … [Read more...] about La Scala Recital and Concert Season 2016-2017 – full dates and interpreters