Italy’s La Scala reopens after 7-month pandemic-led closure

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Italy’s La Scala reopens after 7-month pandemic-led closure

By Sara Rossi

Milan: Italy’s La Scala opera house has reopened its doors to a restricted audience, raising hopes of a gradual resumption of Milan’s vivid cultural life after a nearly seven-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Masked members of the orchestra, conducted by in-house music director Riccardo Chailly, and of the choir performed arias by Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner and other renowned composers in an empty auditorium on Monday (Tuesday AEST), with about 500 masked people watching the concert from the surrounding boxes.

A view of La Scala opera house as it reopened.

A view of La Scala opera house as it reopened.Credit: AP

The concert - marking the debut at La Scala of 34-year-old Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen - won a five-minute ovation and ended with an encore of Verdi’s Va, Pensiero.

“It is a symbol of restart not only for La Scala, but for Italy as a whole,” said Artistic Director Dominique Meyer.

With COVID-19 cases and deaths decreasing, the country is assessing loosening lockdown measures and plans to lift quarantine restrictions for travellers arriving from European countries, Britain and Israel as early as mid-May.

It shut its theatres and concert halls last October to contain a resurgence of the pandemic after the northern summer. Coffee bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres partially reopened in most regions on April 26.

La Scala opera theatre during the lockdown in Milan.

La Scala opera theatre during the lockdown in Milan.Credit: AP

The concert also marked the 75th anniversary of the reopening of the Milan opera house after World War II bombings.

“It was a sort of regaining of what we had before the pandemic. Being here tonight gives me goose bumps,” said 47-year-old jeweller Andrea Sangalli.

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With the situation gradually improving in the northern Lombardy region around Milan, one of Italy’s areas hardest hit by the pandemic, La Scala is expected to unveil its new season this month.

On Tuesday, director Riccardo Muti will conduct a concert with the Wiener Philharmoniker orchestra, while British conductor Daniel Harding is scheduled to take the stage on May 17.

Tickets for all three performances are sold out.

Reuters

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