Milan Attractions

Venue: La Scala (Teatro alla Scala)    When: Daily

Italy's greatest opera house, Milan's Il Teatro alla Scala (or simply La Scala) re-opened on 7 December 2004 and is once again the cultural highlight of Milan. It now boasts a fully-restored, dazzling auditorium and a brand-new technologically advanced stage to match its enchanting atmosphere.

Designed by Piermarini, the theatre was built between 1776 and 1778 under the patronage of Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria when much of Northern Italy was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty.

During the course of the 19th century, however, La Scala was to become a symbol of the Risorgimento, the struggle for Italian unification, largely through its link with the life of the great composer Giuseppe Verdi. His stirring arias, often not-so-veiled references to yearnings of the oppressed, became patriotic calls-to-arms. The theatre's civic significance was crowned in 1872, when it became the property of the City of Milan.

During the First World War La Scala closed down and was reopened thanks to the personal involvement of legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini, who became director during one of the House's most magnificent periods. It was bombed during the Second World War and once again Toscanini came to the rescue, partly funding its reconstruction with money raised by his concerts.

La Scala is one of the meeting points for Milan's élite. Seats are coveted internationally; obtaining them is not always easy, and never cheap. The repertoire is distinct in that, even though it often programmes the Italian opera classics, it often champions unusual gems. New to this season is the "Domenica alla Scala" (Sunday at La Scala) initiative, a series of four concerts on Sunday afternoons, with free admission for any child accompanied by an adult.