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The Opera That Opened La Scala

The Opera That Opened La Scala

When Milan’s iconic La Scala opera house opened in 1778, it didn't debut with a famous Italian classic. Instead, the inaugural performance was a grand, star-studded piece composed by Antonio Salieri.

Antonio Salieri is often unfairly remembered only as a rival to Mozart, but in his day, he was a musical superstar. He was commissioned to write Europa riconosciuta specifically to showcase the theater’s cutting-edge stage technology. The production was designed to overwhelm audiences with intricate, massive sets and complex vocal acrobatics. After being largely ignored for centuries, the work was revived to celebrate the house's restoration in 2004.

Source: Europa riconosciuta

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