BREAKING NEWS: La Scala Legal Office Redesigns Opera Chic's Logo
They like us! They really like us!
Dear Opera Chic readers,
Teatro alla Scala's chief legal counsel (they have an in-house legal office, lucky them, but then, as Il Foglio newspaper reported back on April 2, 2005, the La Scala staff is four times as large as the Metropolitan Opera's, even if La Scala doesn't stage four times as many events as the Met does and, we are afraid, the La Scala shows aren't four times better than the Met's. The La Scala tickets are more expensive but, thankfully, not four times as much as the Met's) has today asked Opera Chic in a terse but polite e-mail to change the Opera Chic website's logo because it supposedly creates confusion in the readers minds with La Scala's own official website, due to Opera Chic logo's similarity to La Scala's own logo (until a few minutes ago, now it has been replaced).
So, to be clear, dear readers, this is not the Teatro alla Scala official website: a new logo will make this fact clearer to even the densest readers on teh Internets: this site is not endorsed in any way by Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Opera Chic is in fact a one-woman, non-profit operation that chose not to run any ads despite (wink wink) several interesting offers.
La Scala also took issue with some other minor things: they don't want anybody to take pictures inside the theater before, during, or after the performances, and so they asked Opera Chic to take down from the site all and every photograph taken inside La Scala: we are working on removing those, too, so don't expect in the future any, "Angela Gheorghiu's moons the audience after they boo her the way that they booed her husband", because Opera Chic won't be able to publish that.
Also, Angela will probably not show up anyway for her (already sold-out) La Traviata engagement in July at La Scala, Opera Chic hears, so it's no great loss. (Remember, we're the ones who told you one week before his Aida walkout that Roberto Alagna was getting cold feet during his Aida rehearsals).
Unlike other opera houses that are happy to e-mail Opera Chic press releases and other for-publication material, La Scala does indeed read us, but does not like us, we are afraid. We'll have to live with that -- no Hanukkah greetings this year from La Scala! (But then, we didn't get their Hanukkah greetings last year either).
Text-based coverage on La Scala will obviously continue here, now more than evar: after all, when La Scala's own website was sadly down for an entire day just when they introduced the 2007-2008 season to the public, ie the most important day in the whole year for La Scala website to actually work, Opera Chic's small ship was sailing sweetly. Thanks to TypePad's cheapest account, we seem to be more reliable than La Scala's own server.
In other La Scala news, the production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide that was first canceled then reinstated after extensive rewrites by Canadian director Robert Carsen (the guy who said, "Candide is political, social and intellectual satire or it's nothing,") after extensive cuts to tone down its political and religious content, is still selling tickets very slowly. We'll keep reporting on that, too. It's not like we need a camera for that.
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Our sister-in-solidarity, NYC opera blogger extraordinaire La Cieca, feels our pain (also having been recently herself on the receiving-end of blog censorship)...and we ♥ ♥ her tags!
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Our dear Jessica Duchen, a sweetest friend and music critic for The Independent weighs in from London on the "sense of humour failure".
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Thanks for the solidarietà to the funniest/smartest ragazza romana, Giorgia of Opéra Bouffe, Photoshop genius and Pappano fetishist who joins the pro-OperaChic fray! Grazie grazie!
BRAVA, STELLINA MAGGIORE!!! Those wonks at La Scala should be so lucky to be confused with you. I suppose this was bound to happen and it's so kewl. As your readers have come to expect, signorina OC responds with magnanimity and grace, and with a functioning web site.
Keep on keepin on.
Anna Fidela
Posted by: Donna Anna | June 06, 2007 at 03:32 AM
Well...isn't this something. I with Anna, they should feel so honored.
Boo on the flunkies behind the scenes of La Scala.
Posted by: Amn.eris | June 06, 2007 at 04:54 AM
OC's commentary on La Scala is so intriguing and amusing that those of us who never have been might be motivated to undertake un viaggio; they should be grateful...
Posted by: virginblogger | June 06, 2007 at 04:56 AM
Opera Chic is T3H B35T!!!!111eleven111!!!!one!!!!. I think her commentary on La Scala and the other musical events in Europe merits her an outstanding logo. Plus, she's the only blogger on T3H 3NT1R3 INTERNETS who combines a sassy sense of chic fashion with the art of all arts. I say we pay the loggione to boo Lissner and his management if they deny her the logo.
Posted by: Papardelle con Sugo | June 06, 2007 at 05:17 AM
Nicely done! You know you've made it when the man comes in and tries to shut you down!
Posted by: OperaNow! | June 06, 2007 at 06:24 AM
Well I hope the management at La Scala realizes just how self-defeating their little act is. It seems in these days of trying to attract greater audiences to opera, the major (or any) houses would see the value in the FREE coverage they are getting from sites like this one. Yes, we understand copyright and all, but this is FREE adverstising for them, really. Its not like your sitting there with a live cam feed on all of their performances.
Virginblogger makes a good point about potential visitors. If anything, the photos and small clips on this site are enticements to future ticket buyers. Evidently, someone there doesn't understand the power of the blog and media attention. Oh well, their loss. I guess this means future performers at La Scala will be represented by OC stick drawing renditions? Go ahead, OC, just draw stick men to represent their performers, and draw a stick box to represent La Scala in future posts. I think you will be safe, legally, and La Scala management can rest easy knowing they are being represented by a stick box drawing. :)
Posted by: Corey | June 06, 2007 at 07:39 AM
Opera Chic rocks!
OC this is the prize of fame..., keep on!
Posted by: Mei | June 06, 2007 at 09:20 AM
Hey, what can I say!?! La Scala is full of sh*t. There, I said it. They should get a life.
Posted by: Italiana in Bristol | June 06, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Should we add
A loro la mala Hanukkah???
Posted by: Donna Anna | June 06, 2007 at 01:06 PM
What can I say..
Once I had the dream to attend to La Scala and watch Mro. Muti..obviously this eill not be possible..
When I few weeks ago I found oyur blog I had the pleasure to share the magic of the ilusion coming a little closer..
I'm a catalan government lawyer by career.. I work for helpless children and I need a place to rest, laugh and get relaxed..this is the soothing efect of this blog for me..
Please hold on bringing this bliss..
Non si puo piangere sul latte versato.. so forget abou mean spirits ..
tu sei una figlia d'arte¡
Posted by: pepaguardiola | June 06, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Yet another large corporate body that doesn't understand the internet and the power of peer-to-peer marketing. If it was La Scala's aim to appear dated and out-of-touch they have succeeded magnificently!
More power to you OC.
Posted by: David | June 06, 2007 at 03:05 PM
Kinda reminds me of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Who ever heard of Kazakhstan?? Or cared?
Whose sorry now?
Nothing good ever comes from hasty decisions.
Posted by: Crewmantle | June 06, 2007 at 03:52 PM
T3H corporations are t3h suxorz!!! I've learned more about La Scala through Opera Chic's godlike knowledge about Milan.
Posted by: Papardelle con Sugo | June 06, 2007 at 04:16 PM
How completely bizarre that an organisation that needs friends goes out of its way to make enemies. They must have run out of singers to sue.
Posted by: inter mezzo | June 06, 2007 at 04:52 PM
Ha! They should be flattered, instead.
And they should only *wish* their boring website looked anything like your blog, dear OC!
Solidarietà. :)
Posted by: giorgia | June 06, 2007 at 05:24 PM
OC, you rawk, and your new logo is as cool or even cooler than the old one; frumpy La Scala people... don't know a thing about internet and publicity, and they call themselves advisors, legal or economic, pfff...
Anyways, you are 'teh best' when it comes to Milanese and world opera news, gossip and, let's not forget, fashion.
You're humble readers are with you in these trying times :))
Posted by: Theo | June 06, 2007 at 06:06 PM
A) Blow thousands of Euro on Scala over priced tkts
+
B) Provide tons of free publicity for boring Scala shows that would otherwise get ignored by international media
=
C) Get sued by Scala for taking some grainy blurry shots of washed up singers
Who are these people?
Posted by: coccodrillo | June 06, 2007 at 06:22 PM
Don't take any notice of that bunch of unhearty fools in charge of such a fantastic place for opera lovers in the world! you are so far the best advert for them and I really enjoy reading you when you are witty and so serious and touching( about Janos Fürst ,your paper and the poem you chose ) .I will miss your photos so good too which were as if I could have been sitting next to you or not far . They are indeed 'unarty' !
Posted by: maguy | June 06, 2007 at 06:28 PM
Fascism: the not-so-delightful side of Italy.
Posted by: rompicolleone | June 06, 2007 at 06:35 PM
Read this...
http://www.lemondedelamusique.fr/index.php?id=64&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=225&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=518e3f3378
Posted by: montano | June 06, 2007 at 06:39 PM
> Fascism: the not-so-delightful side of Italy.
Indeed. They even hijacked my beloved "300" http://operabouffe.wordpress.com/2007/06/06/king-leonidas-salvaci-tu/ ...
Posted by: giorgia | June 06, 2007 at 07:14 PM
While I am greatly enamoured with OC’s (v informative AND funny) blog, I have to admit I quite understand La Scala’s reaction: like it or not, even on the internet laws have to be abided by. If you are “incazzata nera”, I guess they too were when they noticed you were using their (admittedly cute) *copyrighted* logo – what would Apple or Prada say if I used theirs?
IMHO talking abt fascism here is slightly exagerated...
Posted by: Carine Roitfeld | June 06, 2007 at 07:23 PM
While I "get" the legal side, the reality is that there was never any chance of anyone whose brain functions on both sides confusing your blog with La Scala's website. Your logo was/is so obviously affectionate, by one who spends so much of her time at and writing about La Scala ... not to mention the money and, yes, real, honest-to-Yourself advertising you've given them.
Regarding advertising, since reading your blog, I have personally developed an abiding hunger for experiencing the grandeur of La Scala myself - and have tentative plans to do so next year (from Los Angeles). That ache did not exist before your blog (for Florence, yes .. Milan, no .. and not at all La Scala). Your photos fed that appetite, to be sure. That is the purpose of advertising. For me, it worked.
La Scala's coffers would better be spent on hiring someone who can translate their website into English which is decipherable in fewer than three passes.
Carry on in strong spirit and count one more ardent supporter in your camp. :)
Posted by: RachDminor | June 06, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Hopefully Ms. Gheorghiu will save the mooning for post-show entertainment! I'm sure if you ask her nicely she will do it across the street where your camera phone is legal.
Posted by: Z | June 06, 2007 at 08:58 PM
My favorite of your supporters blogging about this today is Intermezzo, solely because the abbreviated post name in the url ends up as "wanted_opera_ho.html," which sounds like the lovely OC is an opera ho on the run.
Posted by: Jen | June 06, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Lamentable and absurd decision of the Scala. It would be better than they worried to make one season artistic more interesting and ambitious.
Posted by: ximo | June 06, 2007 at 10:40 PM
Wait, wait... let me get this straight. So this really *isn't* the Scala website??!? This clears up everything! And here I've been, like an idiot trying for weeks to find tickets to buy!!!1!
Seriously, those guys are no fun and I will always keep reading your blog.
Posted by: mahlered | June 06, 2007 at 11:28 PM
Lissner can't stop you!
and we'll keep reading and enjoying!
Posted by: Mocho | June 07, 2007 at 12:55 AM
> what would Apple or Prada say if I used
> theirs?
If you had a blog as popular as operachic's, they'd thank you for the free ad. I don't browse fashion blogs but tech blogs are full of corporate logos, tech companies are smart and understand that blogs bring business. Tech companies understand the Internet, la Scala doesn't.
I see your signature is Carine Roitfeld: are you the editor of French Vogue? If you are, good. If you aren't her, why do you impersonate her on the Internet? Would she agree with your use of her name? What would YOU say if she hired Conde Nast lawyers to go after you? Would you think it's fair? Bet not.
La Scala's "logo" is more than a 100 years old. Copyright lasts 70 years in the EU. I suspect la Scala slightly changed the design and copyrighted the logo again a few years ago. Long after the original artist's right expired. That's smart.
What's not smart is to attack with LAWYERS a very popular blog run by a girl who doesn't even sell ads and is clearly in love with la Scala and brings coverage of la Scala to English-speaking audiences (memo to Scala staffers if they read this blog, and they should: NOBODY COVERS LA SCALA OUTSIDE OF ITALY UNLESS IT'S THE PREMIERE OF THE SEASON. Unless Alagna runs away, yes. operachic gives you good coverage in English for free in a nonprofit blog; she is an asset to any reasonable opera house. Most critics outside of Italy don't care about la Scala; in America, a huge classical music market, la Scala is little more than a curiosity. operachic brings la Scala to an audience that la Scala should salivate for: she is young and brings a younger, hipper audience of English speakers who travel. They wouldn't know zip about what's going on in Milan without her. New York Times? They don't care about la Scala. The New Yorker? Alex Ross reads operachic and sends emails to la Scala to protest her mistreatment; he hasn't visited la Scala for years, and he's the most widely read American critic of classical music.
La Scala should wake up; Operachic has agreed to every Scala request for fear of a lawsuit. Now that la Scala has scared her good, the honorable thing to do is to leave her alone. The Scala logo is "safe" now. The Scala lawyers have won a great battle, on the Italian taxpayers dime, against a girl with a blog. They should politely go now.
Posted by: Tommaso | June 07, 2007 at 01:45 AM
Opera Chic, you have my support!
Posted by: Verita | June 07, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Instead of being happy for having so much publicity from you, they decided to ask you to change the logo and take off the pics. If I were you I'd ignore La Scala from now on.
Their website is hardly informative and most of all BORING, polary opposite from your blog-site.
KEEP UP A GREAT WORK OC!
Cheers
Posted by: dze | June 07, 2007 at 11:31 PM
You need to hold a press conference in the piazza out front ... maybe sing a bit, like I did.
Don't let 'em get to you.
Posted by: Roberto A. | June 08, 2007 at 12:28 AM
OC ,shall I kindly and respectfully ask Roberto A who shows support to give you a rendez-vous for a duo there? fabulous idea for you both ! By the way Dear Roberto ,the real one (?), will you be in Marseilles with Angela in that new opera 'Marius et Fanny' music Kosma , this is the great event for opera lovers down South ...I'll be there .I can't wait to see this famous Pagnol play (and legendary films -La trilogie Marius,Fanny, César) adapted for lyrical purpose in Marseilles Opera House in September .OC, you will have to join us (, and there is a similarity in the logo ,the cross is blue ..instead of red ).
Posted by: maguy | June 08, 2007 at 11:56 PM
(OC thank you for publishing this response, which am aware is a bit long)
To Tommaso:
First let me say again how I like Opera Chic’s blog – she is undisputedly v talented and v funny.
Now, you’ll probably say am a bit thick, but La Scala only asked OC to remove their logo and the copyrighted material from her blog – which to me, in some way, makes sense. And also, if I’ve understood correctly, La Scala lawyers haven’t attacked OC, they *asked* to remove the material (as far as I know threatening to do sth is pretty different from actually doing it). So I find all the La Scala bashing (the v. refined “full of shit”, “fascists”) quite sickening.
Re: tech blogs. At home we happen to be great fans of Apple, and on all the fan websites and blogs we visit I’ve never seen Apple’s logo used (always inspired-by versions). The possibilities are then two: or all these Mac fans don’t know how to copy and paste Mac logo, or maybe… Apple doesn’t understand the Internet ;-)
Re: copyrights. You’re right, copyright protection last 70 years in the EU, but to my knowledge this rather applies to artistic productions (ie books, music). Not sure it makes sense for logos…
Re: In the USA “La Scala is little more than a curiosity” – because the Wiener Staatsoper and the Royal Opera House are not?
Re: my identity - you’re a smart one: I am NOT Carine Roitfeld (I wish I were, though)! This might surprise you, but if Condé Nast sent me their lawyers I’d comply to their orders blushing – but maybe that’s because I’ve always been a good girl (well, sort of)…
Also, before you start accusing me: I am in no way related to La Scala…
To OC:
Keep amusing and informing us, you reports on Milan are greatly needed – I am pretty sure that doing so whilst staying within the limits of the law isn’t that bad…
Ok, I think I’ll leave it here for now - it’s aperitivo-time after all, so good Saturday night everyone !
Posted by: Carine Roitfeld (not the real one though) | June 09, 2007 at 07:01 PM