|
Masked members of the choir and orchestra
performed the national anthem in an empty auditorium that in
other years would be packed with Italy's political, business and
showbusiness elite for one of the highlights of Milan's cultural
calendar.
Organisers called the show "A riveder le stelle" ("to see the
stars again") in reference to the final phrase in Dante
Alighieri's "Inferno", signalling hope that the pandemic which
has brought Europe's economy to its knees will soon be overcome.
"This was an extraordinary experience but I hope not to repeat
it," conductor Riccardo Chailly said.
Italy shut its theatres and concert halls in October to contain
a resurgence of the pandemic after the summer and the
restrictions are due to stay in place until at least after the
Christmas holiday season.
Some performances were live and others pre-recorded. They
included star dancer Roberto Bolle, who performed a ballet solo
surrounded only by light beams.
Organisers also took viewers to normally off-limits rehearsal
and backstage areas of La Scala, the 242-year-old theatre at the
heart of Milan's musical life.
With the Lombardy region around Milan among the worst affected
areas in Europe and still recording thousands of new coronavirus
infections every day, it is still unclear how La Scala will
stage its planned new season.
In October dozens of La Scala singers and musicians tested
positive for the virus, forcing all members of the chorus into
quarantine along with members of the orchestra.
(Editing by Agnieszka Flak and Gareth Jones)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
