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43-670: Among the personalities who were hosted there were Henry of Hesse, set designer for the Teatro alla Scala , who was housed during his stays in a room called the Prince's Room in his honor. There was also the Princess' Chamber, reserved for Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy , a good friend of the Necchi sisters. The region where the villa is situated, although adjacent to the city center, was predominantly occupied by private gardens and orchards by

86-537: A costume. Alagna did not return to the production. A fire destroyed the previous theatre, the Teatro Regio Ducale , on 25 February 1776, after a carnival gala. A group of ninety wealthy Milanese, who owned private boxes in the theatre, wrote to Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este asking for a new theatre and a provisional one to be used while completing the new one. The neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini produced an initial design. However, it

129-513: A no-confidence motion against Muti. They demanded the resignation of Fontana's replacement, Mauro Meli. Muti had already been forced to cancel a concert a few days earlier because of the disagreements. Italy's culture minister, Giuliano Urbani , supported the conductor but called for urgent action by management to safeguard the smooth operation and prestige of La Scala. On 2 April 2005, Muti resigned from La Scala, citing "hostility" from staff members. In May 2005, Stéphane Lissner , formerly head of

172-405: A religious nature found a special place in the mystery plays performed on cathedral squares. As before, they dealt with sacred subjects, but they were not about worship per se. Secular musical theater also existed, but had a more popular and intimate aspect (see, for example, Adam de la Halle 's Jeu de Robin et Marion ("Play of Robin and Marion"), in the 13th century). At the beginning of

215-453: A total of "3,000 or so" seats organized into 678 pit-stalls, arranged in six tiers of boxes above which is the 'loggione' or two galleries. Its stage is one of the largest in Italy (16.15m d x 20.4m w x 26m h). Building expenses were covered by the sale of boxes, which were lavishly decorated by their owners, impressing observers such as Stendhal . La Scala (as it came to be known) soon became

258-526: The Opernhaus vorm Salztor in Naumburg in 1701. With the rise of bourgeois and capitalist social forms in the 19th century, European culture moved away from its patronage system to a publicly supported system. Early United States opera houses served a variety of functions in towns and cities, hosting community dances, fairs, plays, and vaudeville shows as well as operas and other musical events. In

301-556: The Aix-en-Provence Festival , was appointed General Manager and artistic director of La Scala, becoming the first non-Italian in its history to hold the office. On 15 May 2006, Daniel Barenboim was named Maestro Scaligero , or de facto principal guest conductor of the company. In October 2011, Barenboim was appointed the next music director of La Scala, effective December 2011, with an initial contract of 5 years. In December 2013, management named Riccardo Chailly

344-522: The Church abandoned spectacles as practiced in Antiquity. Histrions , representative of Greco-Roman civilization , gradually disappeared. The Middle Ages saw the abandonment of ancient theaters, which were transformed into gigantic stone quarries , like many other ancient buildings, both public or private. Music still had its place in worship. It continued to bring audiences together, but its content

387-679: The 17th and 18th centuries, opera houses were often financed by rulers, nobles, and wealthy people who used patronage of the arts to endorse their political ambition and social position. There was no opera house in London when Henry Purcell was composing and the first opera house in Germany, the Oper am Gänsemarkt , was built in Hamburg in 1678, followed by the Oper am Brühl in Leipzig in 1693, and

430-843: The 17th century, in Italy, singing underwent yet another renewal, with the emergence of Baroque art at the height of the Renaissance . Italy continues to have many working opera houses, such as the Teatro Massimo in Palermo (the biggest in the country), the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan . The Teatro San Cassiano in Venice was the world's first public opera house, inaugurated as such in 1637. In

473-483: The 2000s, most opera and theatre companies are supported by funds from a combination of government and institutional grants , ticket sales, and private donations. In the 19th-century United States, many theaters were given the name "opera house", even ones where opera was seldom if ever performed. Opera was viewed as a more respectable art form than theater ; calling a local theater an "opera house" therefore served to elevate it and overcome objections from those who found

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516-579: The Accademia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo (Academy for the Performing Arts). Its goal is to train a new generation of young musicians, technical staff, and dancers (at the Scuola di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala , one of the academy's divisions). Above the boxes, La Scala has a gallery—called the loggione —where the less wealthy can watch the performances. The gallery is typically crowded with

559-515: The British and later served as the residence of the Dutch consul; the family regained possession after a few years. Angelo Campiglio passed away in 1984; sisters Nedda and Gigina died in 1993 and 2001, respectively. Without heirs, the sisters were concerned with finding a suitable purpose for the house, ultimately bequeathing it to FAI (Italian Environmental Fund). The villa underwent restoration under

602-536: The Gadola Firm. The house was envisioned as an elegant yet comfortable dwelling, modern in both style and facilities, as evidenced by the inclusion of an elevator, a dumbwaiter, intercoms and telephones, and a heated swimming pool. Beginning in 1938, and for the next twenty years, the Necchi Campiglio family engaged architect Tomaso Buzzi  [ it ] to redesign the exterior and subsequently

645-556: The Scala ' ) is a historic opera house in Milan , Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as il Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro alla Scala ( lit.   ' the New Royal Ducal Theatre at the Scala ' , which was the former location of a church ). The premiere performance was Antonio Salieri 's Europa riconosciuta . Most of Italy's greatest operatic artists, and many of

688-588: The Serbelloni garden and were entirely verdant, began to be developed from 1926 according to a subdivision plan formulated by architect Aldo Andreani . This central yet serene and tree-lined area attracted Angelo Campiglio and the Necchi sisters, originally from Pavia, who sought a residence in Milan. After acquiring the land around 1930, the architectural design of the new home was entrusted to Piero Portaluppi, and its construction took place between 1932 and 1935 by

731-503: The direction of architect Piero Castellini. The works required over three years and an expenditure of approximately six million Euros. Upon completion, the villa was opened to the public in May 2008. The owners were prominent members of the cultured Lombard industrial bourgeoisie, and their lifestyle is reflected in the building, designed and constructed without budget constraints, showcasing the emerging architectural style (Italian Rationalism),

774-636: The end of the 19th century. Its construction commenced in 1890–92 with the establishment of the Institute for the Blind, and continued following the inauguration of new streets – Mozart, Serbelloni, and Barozzi – subsequent to a 1907 agreement between the Milan Municipality and Countess Antonietta Sola-Busca, owner of the Serbelloni palace and garden. The areas around Via Mozart, which bisected

817-428: The feast day of Milan's patron saint . All performances must end before midnight, and long operas start earlier in the evening when necessary. The Museo Teatrale alla Scala (La Scala Theatre Museum), accessible from the theatre's foyer and a part of the house, contains a collection of paintings, drafts, statues, costumes, and other documents regarding the history of La Scala and of opera in general. La Scala also hosts

860-778: The finest singers from around the world, have appeared at La Scala. The theatre is regarded as one of the leading opera and ballet theatres globally. It is home to the La Scala Theatre Chorus, La Scala Theatre Ballet , La Scala Theatre Orchestra, and the Filarmonica della Scala orchestra. The theatre also has an associate school, known as the La Scala Theatre Academy (Italian: Accademia Teatro alla Scala ), which offers professional training in music, dance, stagecraft, and stage management. La Scala's season opens on 7 December, Saint Ambrose 's Day,

903-461: The first productions of many famous operas and had a special relationship with Verdi. However, for several years, Verdi did not allow his work to be played here, as some of his music had been modified (he said "corrupted") by the orchestra. This dispute originated in a disagreement over the production of his Giovanna d'Arco in 1845; however, the composer later conducted his Requiem there on 25 May 1874. He announced in 1886 that La Scala would host

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946-525: The furnishings of some rooms in a style inspired by 18th-century art, which was softer and more elaborate compared to the original minimalism of Portaluppi's spaces. During World War II, the family evacuated to their villa in Barasso, Varese, and their Milanese home was requisitioned, becoming the headquarters-residence of Alessandro Pavolini . After the fall of the Salò Republic , it was occupied by

989-519: The general manager of La Scala since 1990, was dismissed in February 2005 by the board of governors over differences with the music director, Riccardo Muti . The resulting staff backlash caused serious disruptions and staff strikes. In a statement, the theatre's board said it was "urgent to unify the theatre's management". On 16 March 2005, the La Scala orchestra and other staff overwhelmingly approved

1032-476: The ideal acoustics of theaters. He explained the use of brazen vases that Mummius had brought to Rome after having had the theater of Corinth demolished, and as they were probably used in the Theater of Pompey . As wooden theaters were naturally sonorous, these vases, placed between the seats on the stands, served as resonators in the stone buildings: "By means of this arrangement, the voice, which will come from

1075-455: The institution's administration. While some venues are constructed specifically for operas, other opera houses are part of larger performing arts centers. Indeed, the term opera house is often used as a term of prestige for any large performing arts center. Based on Aristoxenus 's musical system, and paying homage to the architects of ancient Greek theater , Vitruvius described, in the 1st century BC, in his treatise De architectura ,

1118-415: The jury to audition musicians competing for a prize. Ancient theaters provided the ideal conditions, but it was not yet time for opera: the aim was to worship the deities, not to venerate the muses . The subject was religious, it was accompanied by singing and instrumental music. Worship was public, and the audience was made up of citizens as well as other categories of the population. Four centuries later,

1161-481: The most critical opera aficionados, known as the loggionisti, who can be ecstatic or merciless towards singers' perceived successes or failures. For their failures, artists receive a " baptism of fire " from these aficionados, and fiascos are long remembered. For example, in 2006, tenor Roberto Alagna left the stage after being booed during a performance of Aida , forcing his understudy , Antonello Palombi , to quickly replace him mid-scene without time to change into

1204-534: The next music director of La Scala, effective 1 January 2015. Stéphane Lissner left La Scala for the Paris Opera . His successor Alexander Pereira  [ de ] , formerly director of the Salzburg Festival , began his tenure on 1 October 2014. In June 2019 it was announced that Pereira will leave in 2020 and will be replaced by Dominique Meyer . La Scala was originally selected to host

1247-466: The opening ceremony of the 134th IOC Session in 2019, but the event was moved to Lausanne , Switzerland after Milan submitted a joint bid with Cortina d'Ampezzo for the 2026 Winter Olympics . Opera house An opera house is a theater building used for performances of opera . Like many theaters, it usually includes a stage , an orchestra pit , audience seating, backstage facilities for costumes and building sets, as well as offices for

1290-535: The opera company was satisfied with the improvements to the structure and the sound quality, which was enhanced when the heavy red carpets in the hall were removed. The stage was entirely rebuilt, and an enlarged backstage allows more sets to be stored, permitting more productions. Seats now include monitors for the electronic libretto system provided by Radio Marconi , an Italian company, allowing audiences to follow opera libretti in English and Italian in addition to

1333-508: The opera lover, as Mary Shelley discovered in September 1840: At the Opera they were giving Otto Nicolai 's Templario . Unfortunately, as is well known, the theatre of La Scala serves, not only as the universal drawing-room for all the society of Milan but every sort of trading transaction, from horse-dealing to stock-jobbing , is carried on in the pit; so that brief and far between are

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1376-401: The original language. The opera house re-opened on 7 December 2004 with a production, conducted by Riccardo Muti , of Salieri's Europa riconosciuta , the opera performed at La Scala's inauguration in 1778. Tickets for the re-opening fetched up to €2,000. The renovations cost a reported €61 million and left a budget shortfall that the opera house overcame in 2006. Carlo Fontana,

1419-424: The preeminent meeting place for noble and wealthy Milanese people. In the tradition of the times, the main floor had no chairs, and spectators watched the shows standing up. The orchestra was in full sight, as the orchestra pit had not yet been built. As with most of the theatres at that time, La Scala was also a casino , with gamblers sitting in the foyer. Conditions in the auditorium, too, could be frustrating for

1462-469: The premiere of what was to become his penultimate opera, Otello . The premiere of his last opera, Falstaff was also given in the theatre. In 1982, the Filarmonica della Scala orchestra was established to develop a symphonic repertoire to add to La Scala's operatic tradition, the orchestra drawing its members from the larger pool of musicians that comprise the Orchestra della Scala. The Filarmonica

1505-410: The snatches of melody one can catch. La Scala was originally illuminated with 84 oil lamps mounted on the stage and another thousand in the rest of the theatre. To reduce the risks of fire, several rooms were filled with hundreds of water buckets. In time, oil lamps were replaced by gas lamps; these, in turn, were replaced by electric lights in 1883. The original structure was renovated in 1907 when it

1548-525: The spacious and bright rooms, the furnishings, decorative arts, and the advanced and daring craftsmanship of the artifacts. The Necchi Campiglio family – specifically sisters Gigina (1901–2001) and Nedda Necchi (1900–1993), and Angelo Campiglio (1891–1984), Gigina's husband – were active in entrepreneurship between the 1920s and late 1960s, particularly in the production of enameled cast iron and sewing machines (the renowned Necchi  [ it ] brand). In 2009, Luca Guadagnino 's film I Am Love

1591-539: The stage as from a center, will extend in circles, will strike in the cavities of the vases, and will be made stronger and clearer, according to the relationship of consonance that it will have with one of these vases." The odeon built by Pericles near the Theater of Dionysus in Athens was, according to the Suda , intended for the rehearsal of music that was to be sung in the grand theater or, according to Plutarch , for

1634-506: The traditional 7 December 2001 season-opening performances of Otello , which ran through December. From 19 January 2002 to November 2004, the opera company transferred to the new Teatro degli Arcimboldi , built in the Pirelli-Bicocca industrial area 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the city center. The renovation by architect Mario Botta proved controversial, as preservationists feared that historic details would be lost. However,

1677-523: Was completely renewed. The Jeu de Daniel ("Play of Daniel") was a sung play, characteristic of the medieval Renaissance of the 12th century . The subject, taken from the biblical Book of Daniel , deals with Israel's captivity in Babylon . The play was written and performed by students of the Episcopal School of Beauvais , located in northern France. In the 15th century, sung theater of

1720-438: Was conducted first by Carlo Maria Giulini , then by Riccardo Muti , plus many collaborative relations with some of the greatest conductors of the time. As early as 1958 R. Vermeulen of Philips Electronics experimented with "loudspeakers for stereo reverberation" at La Scala, which were "concealed in the cove along the ceiling". The theatre underwent a major renovation from early 2002 to late 2004. The theatre closed following

1763-586: Was filmed at the villa. The movie, which narrates a fictional story, features the wealthy Milanese Recchi family living in the mansion, a name evidently inspired by the villa's original owners. The house also features in Ridley Scott 's 2021 film House of Gucci . La Scala La Scala ( UK : / l æ ˈ s k ɑː l ə / , US : / l ɑː -/ , Italian: [la ˈskaːla] ; officially Teatro alla Scala [teˈaːtro alla ˈskaːla] , lit.   ' Theatre at

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1806-419: Was given its current layout with 1,987 seats. In 1943, during World War II , La Scala was severely damaged by bombing . It was rebuilt and reopened on 11 May 1946, with a memorable concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini —twice La Scala's principal conductor and an associate of the composers Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini —with a soprano solo by Renata Tebaldi , which created a sensation. La Scala hosted

1849-453: Was rejected by Count Firmian (the governor of the then Austrian Lombardy ). A second plan was accepted in 1776 by Empress Maria Theresa . The new theatre was built on the former location of the church of Santa Maria della Scala , from which the theatre gets its name. The church was deconsecrated and demolished. Over a period of two years, the theatre was completed by Pietro Marliani, Pietro Nosetti, and Antonio and Giuseppe Fe. The theatre had

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