La Scala Gala: Shostakovich’s ‘Lady Macbeth’ Premiere
- * "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" Premiere: La Scala in Milan premiered Dmitri Shostakovich's "Lady macbeth of Mtsensk" to a wildly eager reception, including a 12-minute standing ovation.
Here’s a summary of the article, broken down into key points:
* “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” Premiere: La Scala in Milan premiered Dmitri Shostakovich‘s “Lady macbeth of Mtsensk” to a wildly eager reception, including a 12-minute standing ovation.
* Russian Opera Amidst Ukraine War: This is the second time La Scala has opened its season with a Russian opera since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, sparking some controversy.
* Contrasting Protests: While the previous Russian opera (“Boris Godunov”) faced protests, this premiere saw a flash mob advocating for peace. There was also a separate demonstration calling for Palestinian freedom.
* Opera’s Historical Context: The opera itself is significant as it depicts the plight of women in Stalin’s Soviet Union and was banned shortly after Stalin saw a performance due to its critical portrayal of the era.
* Key Performers: U.S. soprano Sara Jakubiak received high praise for her performance as Katerina Izmajilova, and conductor Riccardo Chailly was celebrated in his final Dec. 7 gala premiere as music director.
* Defense of the Choice: Both Chailly and the new general manager, Fortunato Ortombina, defended the decision to stage the opera, arguing it was a historically important work that had been overlooked for too long.
* Political Presence: The premiere was attended by prominent figures including Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre, and Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala.