La Scala Theater

The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known), in Milan, is one of the world's most famous opera houses where world famous composer, singers, and orchestra conductors make their debuts. This theatre had a total over 3,000 seats organized into 678 pit-stalls, arranged in six tiers of boxes above which is the 'loggione' or two galleries. The stage is one of the largest in Italy; the proscenium is 26m wide and 27m high, and the stage was originally 20m deep. The season begins in early to mid-December and runs through May.
HistoryThe theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778, under the name Nuovo Regio Ducal Teatro alla Scala with Salieri's L'Europa riconosciuta. The current edifice is the second theatre on the site. A fire destroyed the first, the ancient Teatro Ducale, on 25 February 1776, after a carnival gala. A group of ninety wealthy Milanese, who owned palchi (private boxes) in the theater, wrote to Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria asking for a new theatre and a provisional one to be used while completing the new one. The neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini produced an initial design but it was rejected by Count Firmian (an Austrian governor).A second plan was accepted in 1776 by Empress Maria Theresa. The new theatre was built on the former location of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the theatre gets its name. The church was deconsecrated and demolished, and over a period of two years the theater was completed by Pietro Marliani, Pietro Nosetti and Antonio and Giuseppe Fe. La Scala opened on 3 August 1778 with Antonio Salieri's opera L'Europa riconosciuta, to a libretto by Mattia Verazi.The original structure was renovated in 1907, when it was given its current layout with 2,800 seats. In 1943, during WWII, La Scala was severely damaged by bombing. It was rebuilt and reopened on May 11, 1946, with a memorable concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini, with a soprano solo by Renata Tebaldi, which created a sensation. On 8 March 1913 the Scala Theatre Museum was opened, after the purchase of collections from the Parisian antique-dealer Jules Sambon.
LocationAddress: Teatro alla Scala, Corso Magenta 71, I-20123 MilanTransit: By Bus: 61. By tram: 1 or 2. By metro: red line: Duomo. Yellow line: Duomo or Montenapoleone.
Principal conductors/Music directors of La ScalaDaniel Barenboim, (2006 -) (as Principal Guest Conductor)Riccardo Muti, (1986 - 2005)Claudio Abbado, (1968 - 1986)No music director between 1956 and 1968Guido Cantelli, (1956) (Died in an airplane crash one week after his appointment)Carlo Maria Giulini, (1953 - 1956)Victor de Sabata, (1929 - 1953)Arturo Toscanini, (1921 - 1929)La Scala closed from 1918 to 1920Tullio Serafin, (1917 - 1918)Tullio Serafin, (1909 - 1914)Arturo Toscanini, (1898 - 1908)
Useful informationTelephone: +39 0288791Email: biglietteria@teatroallascala.orgBox Offices: Central Box Office - Duomo.Galleria del Sagrato, Piazza Del Duomo, Metro Station Duomo.Open every day from 12 to 6 pm.Closed for the summer holiday from 29 July to 28 August and on the following days: 8, 24, 25 and 26 December; 1, 6 and 7 January; 8, 9 and 25 April; 1 May; 2 June.Evening Box Office - Teatro. Teatro alla Scala,Via Filodrammatici 2.Open 2 hours before and until 15 minutes after the start of the performance. Only for the sale and collection of tickets for the same evening.Infotel Scala Service: Information on seating availability and guidelines for purchasing subscriptions and tickets.Every day from 9 am to 6 pm. Tel: +39 02 72003744 (10 lines).In the event of evening performances, open until 8 pm.Service active on opening days of the Central Box Office.Disabled: No facilities for persons with disabilities. http://www.filcoo.com/