MILAN — Italy’s La Scala opera house reopened its doors to a restricted audience on Monday, raising hopes of a gradual resumption of Milan’s vivid cultural life after a nearly seven-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masked members of the orchestra, conducted by in-house music director Riccardo Chailly, and of the choir performed arias by Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner and other renowned composers in an empty auditorium, with about 500 masked people watching the concert from the surrounding boxes.
The concert, marking the debut at La Scala of 34-year-old Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen, won a five-minute ovation and ended with an encore of Verdi’s “Va, Pensiero.”
…
Keep on reading: LOOK: Italy’s La Scala reopens to public after 7-month pandemic closure