Luca Salsi breathes life into Abbado's minimalist Simon Boccanegra

Luca Salsi (Simon Boccanegra) and ensemble

Simon Boccanegra, Prologue

Charles Castronovo (Gabriele) and Eleanore Buratto (Amelia)

Ain Anger (Jacopo Fiesco) and Roberto de Candia (Paolo)

Ain Anger (Fiesco), Eleanore Buratto (Amelia) and Luca Salsi (Boccanegra)

By Laura Servidei, 13 February 2024

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“Viotti... highlighted the drama, extracting intensity from the exceptional La Scala orchestra”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 11 February 2024

Verdi, Simon Boccanegra

Teatro alla Scala

Lorenzo Viotti, Conductor

Daniele Abbado, Director, Set Designer

Nanà Cecchi, Costume Designer

Alessandro Carletti, Lighting Designer

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Angelo Linzalata, Set Designer

Luca Salsi, Simon Boccanegra

Ain Anger, Jacopo Fiesco

Eleonora Buratto, Amelia Grimaldi

Charles Castronovo, Gabriele Adorno

Roberto de Candia, Paolo Albiani

Andrea Pellegrini, Pietro

Diamonds and steel: Anna Pirozzi rules in La Scala’s Turandot revival

Laura Servidei, 12th April

Visually enchanting and meticulously staged, this centenary revival confirms Livermore's production as a modern classic.

****1

The Ring returns to the Rhine: Götterdämmerung at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 1st February

Under Alexander Soddy’s powerful conducting and Sir David McVicar’s dark, evocative staging, the Ring finds a searing conclusion, anchored by a powerful Brünnhilde from Camilla Nylund, as the world burns.

*****

Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth conquers La Scala on opening night

Laura Servidei, 7th December

Shostakovich's brutal tale of sex, murder and madness storms La Scala's opening night, with Riccardo Chailly leading his final season premiere as Music Director.

****1

The game of love: Robert Carsen’s new Così fan tutte at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 8th November

Alexander Soddy leads a great cast in a clever, supremely entertaining new production in Milan.

****1

Pelly’s iconic Fille du régiment retains its charm at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 17th October

Julie Fuchs and Juan Diego Flórez give life to the refreshing and funny take of Laurent Pelly’s classic production, under the baton of Evelino Pidò.

****1

Martone's modern Rigoletto returns with power and flaws to La Scala

Laura Servidei, 10th October

A Rigoletto revival in Milan is elevated by a stellar vocal performance from Amartuvshin Enkhbat, despite a finale that divides opinion and some uneven orchestral pacing.

***11

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.

Luca Salsi breathes life into Abbado's minimalist Simon Boccanegra at La Scala