La Scala
The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, La Scala for short, is one of the best known and most important opera houses in the world. It is located in Piazza della Scala, after the opera house was named. The place got its name from the church of Santa Maria della Scala, which was built here in 1381 and was named after the founder Regina della Scala, wife of Bernabo Visconti, named. The Scala can accommodate around 2,300 spectators.
- 3.1 General Director
- 3.2 Artistic Directors
- 3.3 music directors
- 3.4 choral directors
History of the Opera House
The Scala is the succession to the Teatro Regio Ducale in 1776 spent. Maria Theresa had in the capital of the then Austrian Lombardy for the new building demolish the Church of Santa Maria alla Scala, built by the neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini the rather plain -looking new opera house in just 23 months. The entrance is a porch with a portico. Above the row of windows a pediment with the sun chariot of Apollo. The new house was opened on August 3, 1778 for the premiere of Antonio Salieri 's opera L' Europa riconosciuta was performed.
After the severe damage in the Second World War ( 1943), the legendary opera house was built in record time. On 11 May 1946, the house was re-opened with a concert under Arturo Toscanini. The hasty reconstruction were various errors due, for example, as has been deposited under the orchestra pit rubble, what the acoustics impaired. A complete renovation was urgently needed. A fierce debate on the nature of the redevelopment was kindled. Despite considerable protest, a collection of 18,000 signatures by the prima ballerina Carla Fracci in favor of conservation and careful modernization of fully functional stage technology and despite claims in court, the Scala was demolished for the most part. Only the foyer, the auditorium and supported by steel girders outer walls remained standing. The entire rear part, beginning with the stage of wood, has been removed.
From 2002 to early December 2004, the La Scala was closed to bring acoustic and stage equipment up to date and yet to preserve the style of the original interior largely. With the renovation of the Swiss architect Mario Botta has been commissioned. Under his leadership, a theater with state-of -the-art stage technology emerged, but the foyer and auditorium were given their original features from 1778. Since then can be rehearsed on three stages at the same time. The new stage tower reaches a height of 38 meters.
Was re-opened the Opera House on 7 December 2004 with the same opera as the first opening: L' Europe riconosciuta. Directed by Luca Ronconi, Pier Luigi Pizzi designed the equipment, Conductor was Riccardo Muti, starring Diana Damrau sang the German soprano. Among the invited guests were 2000 Sophia Loren and Giorgio Armani as well as members of several European royal houses. A ticket for the highest price category for the opening ceremony cost 2400 euros.
A conflict erupted over the person of the Successor of director Carlo Fontana. Music Director Muti favored Maurizio Meli, however, the staff spoke against in protest meetings. The waves beat so high that Muti finally could no longer see where the trust in his person and stepped back. Finally, Stéphane Lissner, director of the festival in Aix -en- Provence as well as music director of the Vienna Festival, and Alexander Pereira, director of the Zurich Opera House as the main successor candidates emerged. Lissner was finally appointed in 2005 and chose to give up his position in Aix. He wants to establish the Scala again as a serious, important European opera house in the public attention and plans to expand the ranks last become narrow at guest conductors to undertake major directors and to increase the number of performances.
Lissner leaves the Scala prematurely.
Successor Alexander Pereira, who will take up already for October 1, 2014 his office.
Playing time
The season begins each year on 7 December, the feast day of the patron saint of Milan, the bishop and Church Father, St. Ambrose ( Sant'Ambrogio ).
Others
According to information from the opera house are the best places in terms of visibility and acoustics in the boxes 18, which lie in the center of the rear stalls.
Curious thing
All performances begin traditionally " on time " on the hour. Also on the website is specially indicated in bold, as this is not usual for Italian customs quite. Earlier, it was even common to judge the watches after the start of the game.
Personalities
General Director
- Giulio Gatti- Casazza (1898-1907)
- Mataloni Jenner (1932-1943)
- Carlo Gatti (1943-1946)
- Antonio Ghiringhelli (1946-1972)
- Paolo Grassi (1972-1977)
- Carlo Maria Badini (1977-1990)
- Carlo Fontana (1990-2005)
- Stéphane Lissner (since 2005)
- Alexander Pereira ( from 1 October 2014)
Artistic directors
- Mario Rossi
- Alberto Zedda (1992/1993)
Music directors
- Guido Cantelli (1956 )
- Claudio Abbado (1969-1986)
- Riccardo Muti (1986-2005)
- Daniel Barenboim (2006-2011) as Principal Guest Conductor
- Daniel Barenboim (2011-2014)
- Riccardo Chailly (from 1 January 2015)
Choir directors
- Bruno Casoni
- Giulio Bertola (1983-1991)
- Gerhard Schmidt- Gaden (1984-1989)
- Vittore Veneziani