Italy: Milan opera, La Scala to reopen for concerts

Milan: Milan’s La Scala opera house has reopened for a series of four concerts from July 6-15 before closing again until its official reopening in September.

The opera house has been closed to the public since early March due the coronavirus outbreak began in Italy.

Those attending the special performances in July will have to abide by social distancing rules, with a maximum of 600 spectators compared to the usual 2,000. The bar and cloakroom will remain closed.

The news was announced by La Scala’s superintendent Dominique Meyer who said that maintenance work would be carried out in the opera house over the summer, such as replacing the stage flooring.

The opera house will reopen officially on 3 September with Verdi’s Requiem, followed on 5 September with Beethoven’s Ninth, both conducted by Riccardo Chailly.

Meyer said that the programme for the 2020/2021 season, which will begin on 7 December, will be announced in late August.

“We are also checking everything from a budget point of view” – Meyer told Italian newspaper La Repubblica – “We must take into account that foreign spectators, one third of the total, will not be there. We must proceed with a lot of realism.”

Meyer also confirmed that La Scala is “studying the possibility of outdoor productions” as requested by Milan mayor Beppe Sala.