Go Fig

    >
    >
    > Glitz and clamour mark La Scala's reopening night
    >
    > John Hooper in Rome
    > Wednesday December 8, 2004
    >
    > The Guardian
    > Decked out in red roses and surrounded by riot police, Milan's expanded
    > and refurbished La Scala opera house reopened last night in wholly
    > characteristic style - a mix of high society glitz and indignant social
    > protest.
    >
    > Outside, laid-off Alfa Romeo car workers waved red flags at the men
    > arriving in dinner jackets and the women in their long dresses, jewels
    > and furs.
    >
    > "We want to make our voice heard against the two Milans that are to be
    > seen here tonight, as every year," said their spokesman.
    >
    > Inside, leaflets were scattered from the gallery into the auditorium
    > at the start of the first act by Italy's ballet dancers. They were
    > protesting at next year's budget, which includes a clause
    > unintentionally forcing them to carry on dancing in tutus until they
    > are 65.
    >
    > Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi - who arrived with his wife
    > and daughter - judged it wise to slip in by a side door, but was still
    > heckled by several dozen demonstrators.
    >
    > Socially, the occasion was not quite as illustrious as the theatre
    > authorities had hoped. They had invited the Queen and presidents George
    > Bush and Jacques Chirac, among others. Instead they got King Harald and
    > Queen Sonja of Norway, and the president of Switzerland.
    >
    > Mr Berlusconi sat in the royal box surrounded by the prime ministers
    > of Croatia, Bulgaria and Albania. The leaders of more media-conscious
    > states were perhaps aware that a verdict in Mr Berlusconi's trial for
    > alleged judge-bribing is due soon.
    >
    > Leading figures from the world of arts and fashion were also
    > surprisingly thin on the ground. But Umberto Eco was there, and so too
    > were Sophia Loren and Giorgio Armani.
    >
    > For the gala performance La Scala's musical director, Riccardo Muti,
    > chose the same work that inaugurated the theatre's opening night in
    > 1778 - Antonio Salieri's Europa Riconosciuta. Enthusiastic applause
    > erupted at the end of the first act.
    >
    > The area around the theatre, in the centre of Milan, was closed to
    > traffic and more than 1,000 riot police stood guard against possible
    > disturbances from anti-fur protesters and others.
    >
    > Last night's first night put an end to three years of exile in
    > premises on the outskirts of the city. During those years, the
    > theatre's outdated stage equipment and restricted storage facilities
    > have been replaced and a fly tower added at the back of the building so
    > that more elaborate sets can be moved to and from the stage.
    >
    > The decorations in the auditorium were restored and, in many places,
    > replaced so that last night the theatre radiated carmine and shone
    > gold.
    >
    > The performance itself was was beamed to the nearby Galleria Vittorio
    > Emanuele II, Milan's venerable shopping arcade, to theatres in and
    > around Milan and even into the city's San Vittore prison.
    >
    > Sopranos Diana Damrau and Desiree Rancatore sang the lead roles in the
    > two-act opera, inspired by Greek mythology.
    >
    > About 1,000 VIPs were invited to a post-performance party in a
    > converted steel factory which now serves as a warehouse for La Scala's
    > scenery and costumes.
    > Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

Miss L. Toe

    > >
    > > The area around the theatre, in the centre of Milan, was closed to
    > > traffic and more than 1,000 riot police stood guard against possible
    > > disturbances from anti-fur protesters and others.
    > >

The anti-fur protesters were outside La Rinacentre last Saturday - all 6 of
them :-)

nitram

On Wed, 8 Dec 2004 09:52:03 -0000, "Miss L. Toe"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >> >
    >> > The area around the theatre, in the centre of Milan, was closed to
    >> > traffic and more than 1,000 riot police stood guard against possible
    >> > disturbances from anti-fur protesters and others.
    >> >
    >The anti-fur protesters were outside La Rinacentre last Saturday - all 6 of
    >them :-)

So that's what you were doing there :-)

--
Martin

Miss L. Toe

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Wed, 8 Dec 2004 09:52:03 -0000, "Miss L. Toe"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >> >
    > >> > The area around the theatre, in the centre of Milan, was closed to
    > >> > traffic and more than 1,000 riot police stood guard against possible
    > >> > disturbances from anti-fur protesters and others.
    > >> >
    > >
    > >The anti-fur protesters were outside La Rinacentre last Saturday - all 6
of
    > >them :-)
    > So that's what you were doing there :-)

Nah - I was looking for foxes, damn pests, should be shot slowly all of
them.
Then fed to the dogs.

nitram

On Wed, 8 Dec 2004 11:33:14 -0000, "Miss L. Toe"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    ><[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected].. .
    >> On Wed, 8 Dec 2004 09:52:03 -0000, "Miss L. Toe"
    >> <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> >> >
    >> >> > The area around the theatre, in the centre of Milan, was closed to
    >> >> > traffic and more than 1,000 riot police stood guard against possible
    >> >> > disturbances from anti-fur protesters and others.
    >> >> >
    >> >
    >> >The anti-fur protesters were outside La Rinacentre last Saturday - all 6
    >of
    >> >them :-)
    >> So that's what you were doing there :-)
    >Nah - I was looking for foxes, damn pests, should be shot slowly all of
    >them.
    >Then fed to the dogs.

Tally Ho! :-)

--
Martin

Randee

I understand from another list that Diane Damrau sang particularly
well. So now there is a reason to visit Milan.
--
wf.


Go Fig wrote:

<<snip some>>
    > > For the gala performance La Scala's musical director, Riccardo Muti,
    > > chose the same work that inaugurated the theatre's opening night in
    > > 1778 - Antonio Salieri's Europa Riconosciuta. Enthusiastic applause
    > > erupted at the end of the first act.

    > >
    > > Sopranos Diana Damrau and Desiree Rancatore sang the lead roles in the
    > > two-act opera, inspired by Greek mythology.
    > >