About two hours ago in Piazza della Scala, the small courtyard that bridges Teatro alla Scala with Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in downtown Milan, eight thousand penitent (including OC) gathered to bear witness to Claudio Abbado's brilliant legacy -- an elegant, humble gentleman who shaped with great care forthcoming generations of mini-maestri.
Lissner, Pereira and Milan's mayor Pisapia held down the theater's facade while Riccardo Chailly humbly bowed his head among the adoring hoi polloi (and many Scala employees) fringed by via Filodrammatici. The concert was streamed live on Corriere della Sera's and the Comune di Milano's websites. OC captured four minutes for the curious, clip above, photos from Corriere below.
It was a very dignified send-off for a beloved maestro.