The 2009-2010 season at Teatro alla Scala will begin on December 7, 2009, with a production that, on paper, seems much less disorganized than the recent fired-Filianoti, booed-Gatti sad disaster of a Don Carlo.
The next season opener is a Carmen that Maestro Scaligero (aka super special principal guest conductor) Daniel Barenboim will conduct; Sicilian prodigy Emma Dante -- an interesting, and out of left field choice to say the least -- will direct the production; Escamillo will be Mr. Anna Netrebko aka Erwin Schrott; Don José will be Jonas Kaufmann, as Scala GM Stephane Lissner told "Il Giornale".
What about the lead?, you'll ask.
As of today, they don't really have one yet. If Nadja Michael manages to get out of a commitment at la Monnaie in Brussels (Iphigenie) that overlaps with Carmen, she'll be cast. Another name that's been floated around is Marina Domashenko's -- both singers have already worked with Barenboim, in different roles, in the past and DB doesn't seem keen on working with an untested singer for this big prima.
Obviously, if all else fails, the solution is easy:
Just mike'er up, close down the loggione and enjoy the worldwide publicity!