Its stage is one of the largest in Italy (16.15m d x 20.4m w x 26m h). In 1948 maestro Guido Cantelli (1920-1956) made his debut and established himself as one of the leading postwar conductors. …at the Stairway”; popularly called La Scala), constructed in 1776–78 and designed by the leading Neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini, is one of the great opera houses of the world. It was the first, decisive triumph of Verdi's career. A lot of visitors would prefer … Carlo Fontana, 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. In 1975 the ballet dancer Oriella Dorella debuted at La Scala. The world-famous La Scala opera house in Milan took just two years to built, with work finishing in 1778, but it was not Milan’s first opera house. Building expenses were covered by the sale of boxes, which were lavishly decorated by their owners, impressing observers such as Stendhal. His successor Alexander Pereira [de], formerly director of the Salzburg Festival, began his tenure on 1 October 2014. Opera lovers flock to the house … In May 2005, Stéphane Lissner, formerly head of 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. The Teatro alla Scala, usually known as La Scala, is probably the most famous opera house in the world. Much the same happened in the remodeling of Milan's La Scala opera house between 2002 and 2004. The 2006/07 season saw the return on 7 December of an opera by Verdi, Aida, conducted by Riccardo Chailly, and the launch of the Celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Arturo Toscanini’s Death. Skip the Line: Musical Tour Ticket - La Scala Opera House & Giuseppe Verdi (From $184.29) Skip the Line: Duomo Cathedral and La Scala Theatre (From $51.60) La Scala Theatre and Museum Tour in Milan (From $36.22) Best of Milan Experience Including Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' or Vineyard and Milan Duomo Tour (From $131.11) The orchestra was in full sight, as the orchestra pit had not yet been built. Major restoration and modernisation works of the Theatre began in January 2002. The stage was entirely rebuilt, and an enlarged backstage allows more sets to be stored, permitting more productions. Giulio Bertola was appointed to direct the Chorus. The theatre had a total of "3,000 or so" seats[3] organized into 678 pit-stalls, arranged in six tiers of boxes above which is the 'loggione' or two galleries. Apparently, thingsgot a little crazy at a carnival gala in 1776 and the theatre burned down,leaving the Milanese genteel folks without a fancy performance hall. For firs time La Scala was closed during the World War I. The opera didn’t get another hearing at La Scala until December 2004, when it was chosen to re-open the theatre - conducted by Riccardo Muti - after three years of renovations. For several years, however, Verdi did not allow his work to be played here, as some of his music had been modified (he said "corrupted") by the orchestra. Alagna did not return to the production.[2]. 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 the snatches of melody one can catch.[5]. Cantelli died in an airplane crash one week after his appointment. L'attuale stagione teatrale, uno dei più importanti eventi della vita culturale milanese, è composta da opera lirica, balletto e concerti di musica classica. The Opera House making history since 1778 The opera marked the beginning of a closer collaboration between the Teatro alla Scala and the Israeli-Argentinian Maestro. During that period the choreographies of Salvatore Viganò (1769-181) and of Carlo Blasis (1795-1878) also widened the theatre's artistic supremacy to include ballet. On 16 March 2005, the La Scala orchestra and other staff overwhelmingly approved a no-confidence motion against Muti, and demanded the resignation of Fontana's replacement, Mauro Meli. 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, stage craft and stage management. The Teatro alla Scala was founded, under the auspices of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, to replace the Royal Ducal Theatre, which was destroyed by fire on 26 February 1776 and had until then been the home of opera in Milan. 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