Opera originated in Italy and later developed there as a musical and dramatic art. Since the beginning of the seventeenth century, the opera centers were considered Venice or Naples. After the La Scala Theater was built by order of the Austrian Queen Maria Theresa, the palm in this form of the genre passed to Milan. So it remains to this day. This "Temple of Opera", as it is usually called in the public, has its own choir, ballet troupe and an unsurpassed orchestra, famous for their amazing performances around the world.
Background to Milan Pride
The La Scala Theater was erected on the site where the Church of Milan once stood, which later gave the name to the new building. The building was designed by the famous architect Joseppe Piermarini in those years and was built over two years in 1778.
All the splendor of the building is hidden behind a strict and not very noticeable facade, which is made in the neoclassical style. “La Scala” (Milan) was built very quickly, as its predecessor burned down, and the Italian aristocracy demanded a faster outcome of the construction and longed for new performances. Therefore, the appearance of
the theater was not given increased attention, but this did not affect the interior decoration of the auditorium with perfect acoustics, where all the rules of optics were observed when arranging the seats.
In addition to opera and ballet, there were many places in the building where the local audience could have fun. These were various gambling rooms and buffets, in which large gambling gatherings took place and brought great pleasure to the Milan aristocracy. Thus, for the whole country, La Scala became the real center of social life. Milan became the city where theatergoers and opera lovers from around the world sought to get.
The building underwent reconstruction several times, and during World War II it was completely wiped off the face of the earth and then restored to its original form by engineer and architect L. Secchi.
Artists and great people who performed in the theater
The greatest masters of that time created their works for La Scala. Italy has always looked forward to the new appearing in the seasons, dividing in that period into spring, summer, autumn and carnival time. The first three always pleased the audience with serious opera works, and the fourth was devoted to ballet and various light theater productions.
In the nineteenth century, most of the theater’s repertoire was composed by operas written by the famous Belcanto master, Gioacchino Antonio Rossini. It was thanks to him that a serious performance style of this genre came into fashion. Then, Donizetti and Bellini surprised the audience with their works, and they were performed by well-known opera divas - Maria Malibran, Juditta Pasta and many others.
But the most significant event of that time was the arrival in La Scala (Milan) of the world-famous Italian composer Zuseppe Verdi. It was thanks to him that the Italian opera became so popular not only in Italy, but throughout Europe.
No less significant twist of fate was the appearance in the theater of Arturo Toscanini, who already in his young years became famous thanks to the wonderful performance of the work "Aida". Before him, at La Scala, there was a conductor who did not meet any necessary requirements at all, but Toscanini was able to conquer even picky theater-goers with his play. Subsequently, he became, in addition to his main position, also an artistic director, which brought many positive changes to the life of the theater.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, on the stages of La Scala, Milan and its theater audience could see how the main opera divas of that century, such as Renata Tybaldi and Maria Callas, fought for the prima title . Many world celebrities have performed here: Luciano Pavarotti, Enrico Caruso, Montserrat Caballe, Placiddo Domingo, as well as the best voices of Russia: Fedor Chaliapin, Leonid Sobinov and many others.
The repertoire of our days
The theater opens its doors to art lovers on December 7th, and the season ends in mid-summer. To date, the opera La Scala can be both classical and modern. From the stage come the works of composers of past and present times. The best conductors, directors and artists from around the world are invited to participate in them.
Once every two to three years, such famous performances and operas as Aida, Falstaff and Othello, created by Giuseppe Verdi, as well as Madame Butterfly by composer Giacomo Puccini and a work known to many theatergoers, are staged on the stage of the theater Vincenzo Belinny "Norma". They are presented to the public both in classical style and in modern processing - thanks to the unsurpassed technical parameters of the theater, which enable the director to realize any whim that he wants to use in a theatrical production. Therefore, here the repertoire always pleases its viewer.
In addition to these greatest classics, here you can find operas for every taste. For example, world-class composers such as Richard Wagner, Gioacchino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Modest Mussorgsky and Charles Francois Gounod.
Between opera and theater performances during the season, spectators are pleased with the concerts of various world stars and the performances of their own choir, accompanied by an orchestra.
What is the role of ballet?
From the very first days of the foundation of the theater, ballet art has occupied a significant place in the repertoire of La Scala. On the opening day, Milan and his audience saw a delightful production of “The Cyprus Prisoners”, the choreographer of which was the well-known Legrand.
The greatest people who played a significant role in ballet, such as L. Dupin, D. Rossi and W. Garcia, worked in the theater.
In the nineteenth century, the ballet troupe of the theater became the most famous and popular in all of Europe. A little later, a ballet school was founded within the walls of La Scala, where the best choreographers taught.
Museum
Next to the theater building, there is another building, in which there are many exhibits dedicated not only to La Scala, but also to the whole opera art of Italy as a whole. Here you can see costumes, personal belongings and photographs of famous artists, as well as a variety of musical instruments and even several board games, which at one time was fond of the theater public of past years. Most of the collection of these items was bought at auction in the early twentieth century.
Tickets and regulations
In order to get into the theater building, you must follow a certain dress code. Men should be dressed in beautiful formal suits, and ladies should be in long dresses with bare shoulders.
You can buy tickets to La Scala starting from 25 euros and ending with several hundred. On the opening day - the highest entrance fee, and it is better to pre-book your seats. For the rest of the season, you can pay about thirty euros for visiting the theater, and this is taking into account the fact that the chair is in the gallery.
Despite such prices, many opera lovers try to get here at the very beginning of the season.