La Scala to perform concerts and ballets across all the city’s neighborhoods
La Scala goes out to the streets of Milano, bringing free culture to residents and tourists (make sure you reserve your seat on the opera theater’s website).
On July 11-14, there will be four days of concerts with the Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir and Corps de Ballet in fourteen downtown and peripheral locations across the city. On July 14 (Bastille Day, we wish the best to our French readers and Scala manager Dominique Meyer) La Scala Theater will open its doors to the people of Milano.
The whole initiative is carried out in conjunction with the Municipality of Milano and is part of La Bella Estate, the city-wide program of summer events. On July 12 the Scala violinists will play at the Brera Art Gallery, and on July 13 the Scala Choir will sing in the cloisters of the State University. In the North of the city, the percussions section of the Scala Orchestra will beat drums at the Spirit de Milan on the 12th, and on the 13th the violins section will do concerts at Villa Litta Modignani and Villa Mirabello (basically an inauguration for this renovated architectural gem). In Porta Romana, the Scala Ballet will be at Bagni Misteriosi (an open-air pool with a bar and a theater) on July 12, while on the 11th the Scala violas and violins will play at the Chiaravalle Abbey, and the brass section of the Orchestra at Casa Jannacci. Finally, the Jazz Trio will play in the Southern neighborhood of Chiesarossa on July 13.
The idea to is introduce a new audience to different repertoires ranging from Verdi to jazz. Ballet includes contemporary choreography, as well as classics like The Swan Lake by Nureyev. “It is a way of weaving urban bonds throughout Milano as live shows finally resume in the city,” commented Filippo Del Corno, city alderman for culture, to Corriere della Sera. “It’s always the first step that counts, so it’s La Scala that is taking the first step,” Scala’s Meyer said to AFP, emphasizing that the initiative is about “reaching out to spectators rather than waiting for them to come to the theater.” After six months of silence due to pandemic restrictions, La Scala reopened its doors to the public on May 10.