Finally, after the computer glitch exposed (one week ago) by Opera Chic (and promptly fixed by la Scala's IT department) that had prematurely introduced to the public the 2009-2010 season, la Scala earlier today presented their 2009-2010 season program to the press.
It is, as we already knew, a very conservative season made essentially of hugely popular titles -- a new Carmen (twice, in December 2009 under Barenboim as season opener and as a reprise in October-November 2010 under Dudamel, directed by newcomer Emma Dante, with Erwin Schrott, Jonas Kaufmann and the baffling choice of absolute beginner Anita Rachvelishvili -- see video above), an old Rigoletto (with the eternal Leo Nucci, and conducted by our dear James Conlon), the already-seen Peter Mussbach production of Don Giovanni (with Erwin Schrott/Peter Mattei), a new Faust (conducted by the young talented Stéphane Deneve, a Opera Chic favorite, and directed by our dear nut Eimuntas Nekrosius, the cast: Giordani/Lungu), Pelly's Elisir (allegedly with Ronaldo Villazon and Netrebko surrogate Nino Machaidze), Ponnelle's old Barbiere (with Juan Diego Florez, Kate Aldrich, Joyce di Donato), a new Boccanegra (directed by Federico Tiezzi, conducted by Barenboim, with Domingo/Carlos Alvarez as Simon, Furlanetto and Anja Harteros). Two Wagners: Tannhauser under Mehta directed by the crazy guys from La Fura, Rheingold (directed by Guy Cassiers, la Scala's Ringmaster) under Barenboim. Only two operas from the 20th Century: a new Lulu conducted by Daniele Gatti and directed by Peter Stein, and Chereau's production of From the House of the Dead, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen (who, bless him, for this Janáček asked and obtained a whopping 7 weeks of rehearsals: with Willard White and Peter Mattei and John Mark Ainsley, and this is the one opera this season that Opera Chic does not want to miss for anything in the world).
Operas aside, the already-announced June 2010 return of envirofriendly conductor Claudio Abbado for a Mahler concert will happen and the Milanese maestro has indeed obtained trees -- magnolias -- from city authorities.
For a comprehensive list of the operas in the 2009-2010, click the link below.
Georges Bizet
Carmen
December 2009: 7, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20, 23
Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto
January 2010: 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31
February 2010: 3, 5
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Don Giovanni
Jan 2010: 30
Feb 2010: 2, 4, 7, 10, 12, 14
Leoš Janácek
Z mrtvého domu
Feb 2010: 28
Mar 2010: 2, 5, 9, 13, 16
Richard Wagner
Tannhäuser
Mar 2010: 17, 20, 24, 27, 30
Apr 2010: 2
Alban Berg
Lulu
Apr 2010: 6, 10, 15, 20, 23, 30
Giuseppe Verdi
Simon Boccanegra
Apr 2010: 16, 18, 21, 24, 28, 29
May 2010: 4, 7
Richard Wagner
Das Rheingold (Der Ring des Nibelungen)
May 2010: 13, 16, 19, 22, 26, 29
Charles Gounod
Faust
Jun 2010: 18, 21, 23, 26, 30; Jul 2, 5
Gioachino Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Jul 2010: 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
Gioachino Rossini
L'occasione fa il ladro
Sep 2010: 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28
Oct 2010: 1, 4, 7
Gaetano Donizetti
L'elisir d'amore
Oct 2010: 2, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27
Georges Bizet
Carmen
Oct 2010: 29, 31
Nov 2010: 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 18