MILAN (TBEN) – As many European theaters remain closed due to the pandemic, the famous Teatro alla Scala opens its new season on Tuesday with the gala premiere of Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ in a fully seated venue.

La Scala resumed performances at full capacity in September, but pandemic considerations remain: attendees must be vaccinated or recently recovered to attend performances in Italy under new government regulations launched this week for the period. holidays.

Following last year’s televised premier, the in-person season opener has been a positive signal for one of the world’s best opera houses, although live performances elsewhere continue to suffer as the virus takes a hit. winter resurgence.

“When you see so many great theaters closed – my old theater (Vienna State Opera), Dresden closed, Leipzig closed, etc., etc., a long list – I must say we are lucky to arrive to the first. The general manager of La Scala, Dominique Meyer, said.

Despite everything, the atmosphere of the gala is slightly muted this year, without a big dinner for the stars and without a casting of VIPs after the performance. And media access to the foyer to mingle with the ticketed Milanese glitter, including figures from industry, fashion and the arts, is curtailed to avoid overcrowding.

President Sergio Mattarella is expected to attend what has long been touted as the cultural event on the European calendar. This will probably be the last time for him as his term expires next year.

La Scala Music Director Riccardo Chailly conducts “Macbeth” with a modern staging by Davide Livermore as part of the couple’s fourth consecutive collaboration for the much-vaunted first season of La Scala on December 7th marking the Boss’s Day. of Milan, Saint Ambrose.

Italian baritone Luca Salsi sings the title role alongside star soprano Anna Netrebko as Lady Macbeth, Russian baritone Ildar Abdrazakov as Banquo and Italian tenor Francesco Meli as Macduff.