Opera originated in Italy and later theredeveloped as a musical and dramatic art. Since the beginning of the seventeenth century, Venice or Naples was considered to be operatic centers. After the La Scala theater was built by order of the Austrian Queen Maria Theresa, the palm in this kind of genre passed to Milan. So it remains to this day. This “Temple of the Opera”, as it is commonly called in the public, has its own choir, ballet troupe and an unsurpassed orchestra, famous for its amazing performances throughout the world.
Prehistory of Milan Pride
La Scala Theater was erected at the place whereonce stood the Milan church, subsequently giving the name to a new structure. The building was designed by the famous architect Joseppe Piermarini in those years and was built over two years in 1778.
In addition to opera and ballet, the building wasmany places where the local public could have fun. These were various gambling rooms and coffee shops, in which large gage gatherings took place and brought great pleasure to the Milan aristocracy. Thus, for the whole country, “La Scala” has become a real center of social life. Milan became a city where theater-goers and opera lovers from all over the world were trying to get.
The building has undergone a renovation processand during the Second World War, it was completely erased from the face of the earth and then restored in its original form by engineer and architect L. Secchi.
Artists and great people who performed in the theater
The greatest masters of the time created theirworks for "La Scala". Italy has always been looking forward to the fact that the new will appear in the seasons, which at that time were divided into spring, summer, autumn, and carnival time. In the first three, they always pleased the audience with serious operas, and the fourth was devoted to ballet and various light theatrical performances.
In the nineteenth century most of the repertoireThe theater was composed of operas written by the famous bel canto master - Gioacchino Antonio Rossini. It is thanks to him that a serious style of performance of this genre became fashionable. Then, with their works, the public was surprised by Donizetti and Bellini, and they were performed by well-known opera divas Maria Malibran, Juditta Pasta and many others.
Но самым знаменательным событием того времени became the arrival in "La Scala" (Milan) of the world famous Italian composer Zuzeppe Verdi. It is thanks to him that Italian opera has become so popular not only in Italy, but throughout Europe.
In the early twentieth century on the stages of "La Scala"Milan and its theater people could see how the main opera diva of that century, such as Renata Tibaldi and Maria Callas, fought for the title of prima. Many world celebrities have performed here: Luciano Pavarotti, Enrico Caruso, Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, as well as Russia's best voices: Fedor Chaliapin, Leonid Sobinov and many others.
The repertoire of our days
The theater opens its doors to loversArt of the seventh of December, and ends the season in the middle of summer. To date, the opera "La Scala" can be both classical and modern. From the stage hear 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 or three years they are put on the theater stage.such famous performances and operas as Aida, Falstaff and Othello, created by Giuseppe Verdi, as well as Madame Butterfly by composer Giacomo Puccini and Vincenzo Belinni's work Norma. They are presented to the public both in the classical style and in modern processing - thanks to the unsurpassed technical parameters of the theater, giving the director an opportunity to embody any whim he wants to use in a theatrical production. Therefore, here the repertoire always pleases its audience.
In addition to these great classics, here you canfind operas for every taste. For example, such world-class composers as Richard Wagner, Gioacchino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Modest Mussorgsky and Charles Francois Gounod.
Between opera and theatrical performances during the season, spectators are pleased with concerts of various world stars and 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, the balletArt occupied a significant place in the repertoire of "La Scala". On the opening day, Milan and his audience saw the delightful production of “The Prisoners of Cyprus”, the choreographer of which was the well-known Legran.
The greatest people who played a significant role in the ballet, such as L. Dupin, D. Rossi and U. Garcia, worked at the theater.
In the nineteenth century, the ballet troupe of the theater became the most famous and popular throughout Europe. A little later, in the walls of "La Scala" was founded the school of ballet, where the best choreographers taught.
The Museum
Next to the theater building, there is anothera structure in which there are many exhibits dedicated not only to “La Scala”, but also to the whole Italian art of opera in general. Here you can see costumes, personal items and photographs of famous artists, as well as a variety of musical instruments and even a few board games, which the theater audience of past years was fond of. Most of the collection of these items was purchased at auction in the early twentieth century.
Tickets and applicable rules
In order to get into the theater building, you must comply with a certain dress code. Men should be dressed in beautiful formal suits, and ladies in long dresses with covered shoulders.
Купить билеты в «Ла Скала» можно начиная от 25 euro and ending with a few hundred. On the opening day - the biggest cost of entry, and it is better to pre-book yourself a place. 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 seat is in the gallery.
