Maria Agresta, Francesco Meli and Nicola Luisotti at La Scala

By Kevin Wells, 25 March 2021

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“Agresta... could conceivably jump into a production of La Wally or Manon Lescaut tomorrow”

Reviewed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan on 24 March 2021

Verdi, La battaglia di Legnano: O magnanima… La pia materna mano

Verdi, Otello: Mia madre aveva una povera ancella (Willow Song)

Verdi, Otello: Ave Maria

Verdi, Stiffelio: Sinfonia

Verdi, Otello: Dio mi potevi scagliar

Catalani, La Wally: Ebben, ne andrò lontana

Verdi, Otello: Già nella notte densa

Catalani, Loreley: Preludio

Puccini, Manon Lescaut: Tu, tu, amore? Tu?

Tutino, La Ciociara: Intermezzo

Giordano, Andrea Chenier: Ecco l’altare

Maria Agresta, Soprano

Francesco Meli, Tenor

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala

Nicola Luisotti, Conductor

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.

*****

Nureyev’s Sleeping Beauty at La Scala is pure magic

Elsa Giovanna Simonetti, 21st December

Rudolf Nureyev’s production of The Sleeping Beauty is still a magnificent showcase for La Scala after nearly 60 years.

*****

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

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Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

La Scala “col coeur in man”: Maria Agresta, Francesco Meli and Nicola Luisotti in concert