Press and Teatro alla Scala VIPS gathered about an hour ago with Intendant Stephane Lissner and Milan's Mayor Letizia Moratti in Il Piermarnin's Ridotto Toscanini for the introduction of the opera house's 2011-12 season, released earlier this year than in the past (last year was at the end of May as well as in 2009), although Opera Chic tweeted the play-by-play live from the house a few hours ago.
Finally the new 2011-12 season is a welcome departure from the past couple seasons of mediocre revivals and not terribly exciting rosters, although La Scala's playing it safe with a very even, unrisky productions and projects. La Scala's going back to the big names, working-in some of opera's highest-ticket selling stars for their new season although the list of maestri gets repetitive (Welber, Barenboim, Dudamel) and also the directors (Bondy, Carsen, Zeffirelli). What's with all the doubling-up? The AP's report is here.
Recitals are a mixed-bag with Daniela Barcellona, Ian Bostridge, Mariella Devia, Edita Gruberova, Elina Garanca, Rene Pape, and Rolando Villazon (in November 2012, but we'll believe it when we see it).
The symphonic season brings us Philippe Jordan, Barenboim, Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Semyon Bychkov and Riccardo Chailly (with his Stefano Bollani sidekick!)
Ballet is the most boring out of them all with, yes, Roberto Bolle, but in a cycle of luke-warm shows.
About half of the 13 operas to be seen on Scala's stage are new, seven being new opera productions.
The season opens with Scala's honorary conductor, Maestro Scaligero, Daniel Barenboim, conducting a new Robert Carsen production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca will be Donna Anna and Donna Elvira, Bryn Terfel and Barbara Frittoli thrown in the mix, while Giuseppi Filianoti's trying his luck again with la prima as Don Ottavio since he was fired at the last minute in 2008's Don Carlo and has yet to return..
La Scala shelves Frengo Zeffirelli's 2006 Aida spectacle and brings out his 1963 sets -- which sadly, means no Roberto Bolle in a thong. Conducting is young Israeli conducting nerd, Omer Meir Wellber.
Nicola Luisotti will spin his Puccini magic in the Luc Bondy Tosca.
Claus Guth does Die Frau ohne Schatten in a new production with the ROH -- insanity...
Robin Ticciati makes his Scala opera debut with a new Richard Jones production of Britten's Peter Grimes (blogged here) staring John M. Ainsley and John Graham-Hall.
We've got Noseda doing a new production of Luisa Miller and Fabio Luisi doing a new production of Pelly-Thomas Massenet Manon, starring Nathalie Dessay.
In September all bets are on for a Zeffirelli La boheme with Anna Netrebko and Angela Gheorghiu splitting the role of Mimi (conducted by Daniele Rustioni). Diva vs. diva.
Dudamel comes for a new production of Luc Bondy's Rigoletto with Vittorio Grigolo (Dudamel also conducts the Christmas-time Concerto di Natale).
And the Barenboim/Cassiers oddysee continues with Wagner's Siegfried.
Other big news? Claudio Abbado will finally (we hope) make it back to Scala for a concert in October 2012. After this and this, we're hoping it happens.
A season to look forward to, finally, for the first time in years, a nice predictable schedule for not so predictable times.