Theatre News
£50m renovation for La Scala opera house
Tuesday 10 July 2001The opera house will close on 31 December 2001 and will transfer its activities to a new theatre, which is being built on the outskirts of the city.
The city of Milan, which owns the opera house, agreed to pay for the renovation in 1996. La Scala first opened to the public in 1778.
The horseshoe auditorium - with its ornate six golden balconies - will be redecorated.
And, in a move to "modernise" the famous opera house, the entire backstage area and adjoining office space, rehearsal rooms and dressing rooms are to be completely rebuilt.
The theatre still uses pre-war stage machinery, and a lack of storage space limits performances each year to 90 opera and 40 ballet.
After the renovation it is hoped to stage 120 to 160 opera performances a year as well as more ballet.
It is expected that La Scala will reopen before Christmas 2004.
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