Milan, Italy – The Teatro alla scala kicked off its 2024/2025 season with a resounding performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” on December 7th, 2024. The curtain fell at 10:06 PM, marking the end of a night filled with powerful music and captivating drama.
The premiere garnered enthusiastic praise from prominent figures in the arts and culture world.Stefano Boeri, president of Triennale Milano, lauded the staging, stating, “The scenes are very beautiful, Netrebko is superb, in the simplicity of the direction the plot comes out well.” Maestro Alberto Veronesi, who witnessed the performance, echoed this sentiment, commenting, “It’s challenging to say that it could have been done better. I saw a great orchestra performance, an unrivaled Netrebko and intense direction.”
Former La Scala superintendent Alexander Pereira expressed his admiration for the production, calling it “one of the performances of great tradition.” He added, “This is an opera that moves the heart, one of Verdi’s masterpieces, I am a big fan of Forza del Destino.” Angelo Crespi, director of Brera, also praised the work, highlighting the “classic but also fun scenography.” He noted, “I believe that tonight’s success is evident from the applause which are never taken for granted.”
Emma Marcegaglia found the opera “beyond expectations,” commending the “interesting scenography, the very powerful choir, and Netrebko, who is very good.” She emphasized the opera’s timeless relevance,stating,“A beautiful ensemble for a work that has a very important theme at the moment,and we hope that in 2025 there will be no more wars.”
The evening’s importance extended beyond the realm of artistic gratitude. Tommaso Sacchi, Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of milan, reflected on the current global climate, stating, “This evening at the Prima della Scala it is inevitable to also think about our present and the tragedies we are experiencing at the gates of europe, we make this message of peace our own. This is a signal that it is right that it also starts from the main theater in the world.”
Senator for life Liliana segre,seated in the central box alongside prominent figures like Senate President ignazio La Russa and Mayor Giuseppe Sala,expressed her enjoyment of the evening,saying,“I’m having a lot of fun.”
the opening night of La Scala’s season served as a powerful reminder of the enduring power of art to inspire, unite, and offer a message of hope in challenging times.
Milan’s iconic La Scala opera house kicked off its season with a powerful performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La forza del Destino” on Friday evening. the premiere, however, was overshadowed by a nearby anti-war presentation and a poignant message of peace from La Scala’s superintendent.
The royal box, typically occupied by the President of the Republic, was filled with a notable female presence this year. Senator for life Liliana segre, accompanied by her grandchild, took center stage. Flanking her were Laura Di Cicco, wife of Senate President Ignazio La russa, and Chiara Bazoli, partner of Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala. la Russa and Sala also occupied seats in the box, alongside the President of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana with his daughter Maria Cristina, Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli with his wife Valeria Falcioni, Prefect Claudio Sgaraglia, and Vice President of the Chamber Anna Ascani.
“With all our strength we would like a return to peace,” La Scala Superintendent Dominique Meyer stated when asked if the opera’s opening served as a call for peace amidst global conflicts. “There are a crazy number of wars in the world and every time peace is found – he said - it is a victory for humanity. But at the moment we cannot be very optimistic.”
Meyer’s words resonated against the backdrop of a nearby anti-war demonstration. Protesters threw firecrackers and smoke bombs over barriers near Piazza della Scala, before marching towards Largo Cairoli, their chants echoing through the streets.
The juxtaposition of the opulent opera house and the passionate demonstration highlighted the ongoing tension between art and activism, beauty and conflict, that continues to define our world.
As the curtain rose on “La forza del Destino,” the audience was transported to a world of drama and passion, a temporary escape from the realities outside. Yet, the superintendent’s words and the protesters’ cries served as a reminder that the pursuit of peace remains a pressing concern, both on and off the stage.
The global community is mourning the loss of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who passed away peacefully at his home in Cambridge, England, on March 14, 2018. He was 76 years old.
Hawking’s children, lucy, Robert, and Tim, released a statement expressing their profound sadness at the passing of their “marvelous father.” They described him as a “great scientist and an exceptional man whose work and legacy will live on for many years.”
“He was loved and admired by many,” the statement continued.”His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world.”
Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at the age of 21. Despite the debilitating nature of the disease, which gradually paralyzed him over decades, Hawking continued to make groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics.
His most famous work, “A Brief History of Time,” published in 1988, became an international bestseller, making complex cosmological concepts accessible to a wide audience. In it, Hawking explored the origins of the universe, black holes, and the nature of time itself.
“My goal is simple,” Hawking once said. “It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.”
Hawking’s legacy extends far beyond his scientific achievements. He was a vocal advocate for people with disabilities, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination in the face of adversity. his life story served as an inspiration to millions around the world.
The world has lost a brilliant mind and a truly remarkable human being. Stephen Hawking’s contributions to science and his unwavering spirit will continue to inspire generations to come.
## A Night of Transcendence and Turmoil: La Scala Opens Its Season with “Forza del Destino”
**Milan, Italy** – In a night marked by both artistic triumph and social unrest, Milan’s teatro alla Scala ushered in its 2024/2025 season with a powerful performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” on December 7th. As the curtain fell at 10:06 PM, the thunderous applause reverberated through the opulent auditorium, a testament to the captivating music and drama that had unfolded on stage. However,the celebratory atmosphere was tinged with a sobering reality as an anti-war demonstration unfolded just outside the theater walls,casting a long shadow over the evening’s festivities.
**Critical Acclaim for a Masterful Production**
the premiere garnered unanimous praise from prominent figures in the arts and culture world. Stefano Boeri, president of Triennale Milano, lauded the production’s staging, calling the scenes “very beautiful” and praising Anna Netrebko’s performance as “superb.” Maestro Alberto Veronesi echoed these sentiments, stating, “It’s challenging to say that it could have been done better. I saw a great orchestra performance, an unrivaled Netrebko and intense direction.”
Alexander Pereira, former La Scala superintendent, lauded the production as “one of the performances of great tradition,” noting his profound admiration for Verdi’s masterpiece. Angelo Crespi, director of Brera, praised the “classic but also fun scenography” and the overwhelmingly positive audience response.
Emma Marcegaglia found the opera “beyond expectations,” commending the “interesting scenography, the very powerful choir, and Netrebko, who is very good”. She emphasized the opera’s enduring relevance, stating, “A beautiful ensemble for a work that has a very critically important theme at the moment, and we hope that in 2025 there will be no more wars.”
**A Message of Peace Amidst Turbulent Times**
The evening’s importance transcended the realm of artistic recognition. Tommaso Sacchi, Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Milan, reflected on the precariousness of the global climate, stating, ”This evening at the Prima della Scala it is inevitable to also think about our present and the tragedies we are experiencing at the gates of Europe. We make this message of peace our own. This is a signal that it is right that it also starts from the main theatre in the world.”
Senator for Life Liliana Segre, seated in the central box alongside prominent figures like Senate President ignazio La Russa and Mayor Giuseppe Sala, expressed her enjoyment of the evening, saying, “I’m having a lot of fun.” Her presence alongside other prominent female figures, including Laura Di Cicco, wife of Senate President Ignazio La Russa, and Chiara Bazoli, partner of Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala, underscored the importance of female depiction in this traditionally male-dominated realm.
La Scala Superintendent Dominique Meyer underscored the relevance of the evening’s message, stating, “With all our strength we would like a return to peace. There are a crazy number of wars in the world and every time peace is found – he said – it is a victory for humanity. But at the moment we cannot be very optimistic.”
**A Call for Peace in a World on Fire**
Meyer’s words resonated against the backdrop of a nearby anti-war demonstration, where protesters threw firecrackers and smoke bombs, their chants echoing through the streets, serving as a stark reminder of the fragile peace reigning over the world.
the opening night of La Scala’s season served as a powerful testament to the enduring power of art to inspire,unite,and offer a message of hope in challenging times. Yet, the juxtaposition of artistic transcendence and social unrest offered a sobering reminder of the constant struggle for peace and the urgent need for dialog and understanding in a world increasingly fragmented by conflict.
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**Further Questions for a Follow-Up Interview:**
* how did the artists and performers grapple with the knowledge of the ongoing protests while giving their performance?
* How do you see La Scala’s role in promoting peace and dialogue in a world increasingly beset by conflict?
* what are your hopes for the future of La Scala and its role in shaping cultural discourse?
