La Scala's troubles with Covid are not over yet. After the last 7 December the theater had to cancel the Lucia di Lammermoor of the inauguration for an outbreak of Coronavirus in the choir, now - a few days before the presentation of the new season - it is forced to suspend the representation of the Italian in Algiers on May 25 because a cast member tested positive. The show, initially conceived only for streaming, was then opened to the under 30s after the easing of anti-contagion measures.
"During the regular health checks to which the Teatro alla Scala subjects the artists involved in its productions - they explain from the theater - a case of positivity to Covid-19 emerged on the morning of Sunday 23 May in the company involved in the staging of L'italiana in Algiers. Consequently, the show, scheduled for the evening of Tuesday 25 May and intended for the public of Under30 subscribers and pass holders, for streaming on the Theater channels and for live broadcasting on Radio3, is suspended ". At this point, the artistic direction is verifying the possibility of finding an alternative date in which to stage Rossini's work in the historical staging of Ponnelle under the direction of Ottavio Dantone, however those who bought the ticket can ask for a refund.
This Italian (which will still be on the bill also in autumn) marked the return of the public to the hall for an opera from last autumn when Traviata and Aida were staged in the form of a concert.
In this case, however, the presence of spectators (all under 30) was foreseen only in the boxes and on the tiers, with the orchestra placed on a platform built above the stalls.
The first opera in which the orchestra will return to the mystical gulf will be, in June, The Marriage of Figaro, staged by Giorgio Strehler, conducted by Daniel Harding.
A show that also wants to be a tribute to the director one hundred years after his birth.