Editing La Scala (section)

==Recent developments==

===1950s===

As early as 1958 R. Vermeulen of Philips Electronics experimented with "loudspeakers for stereo reverberation" at La Scala, which were "concealed in the cove along the ceiling".<ref> Vermeuelen, Roeleof. “Stereo-Reverberation.” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 6:2 (April 1958), 124–130. [Article includes photograph and installation diagram.]</ref>

===Major renovation, 2002 to 2004===
[[File:Milano scala piazza.jpg|thumb|300px|The exterior of La Scala in 2005 after the 2002/04 renovations]]
The theatre underwent a major renovation from early 2002 to late 2004. The theatre closed following the traditional 7 December 2001 season-opening performances of ''Otello'', which ran through December. From 19 January 2002 to November 2004, the opera company transferred to the new [[Teatro degli Arcimboldi]], built in the Pirelli-Bicocca industrial area {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} from the city center.

[[File:Teatro alla Scala interior Milan.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The theatre's restored interior]]
The renovation by [[architect]] [[Mario Botta]] proved controversial, as preservationists feared that historic details would be lost.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riding |first=Alan |date=5 December 2004 |title=La Scala Proudly Emerges From a Drama of Its Own |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/05/arts/music/la-scala-proudly-emerges-from-a-drama-of-its-own.html |access-date=2 May 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2002 |title=Critics say restoration has ruined La Scala |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/dec/10/italy.arts |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> However, the opera company was satisfied with the improvements to the structure and the sound quality, which was enhanced when the heavy red carpets in the hall were removed. The stage was entirely rebuilt, and an enlarged backstage allows more sets to be stored, permitting more productions.

Seats now include monitors for the [[Electronic libretto|electronic libretto system]] provided by [[Radio Marconi]], an Italian company, allowing audiences to follow opera libretti in English and Italian in addition to the original language. The opera house re-opened on 7 December 2004 with a production, conducted by [[Riccardo Muti]], of [[Antonio Salieri|Salieri's]] ''[[Europa riconosciuta]]'', the opera performed at La Scala's inauguration in 1778.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/la-scala-revamp-finished-early-1.497267| title=La Scala revamp finished early| date=5 November 2004| newspaper=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> Tickets for the re-opening fetched up to €2,000.<ref name="BBC_fires_official">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4297413.stm| title=La Scala board fires top official| date=25 February 2005| newspaper=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

The renovations cost a reported €61&nbsp;million and left a budget shortfall that the opera house overcame in 2006.<ref name=BBC_fires_official />

===2005 onward===
[[File:Barenboim Vienna.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Daniel Barenboim]] (at the Musikverein, Vienna, 2008)]]
Carlo Fontana, the general manager of La Scala since 1990, was dismissed in February 2005 by the board of governors over differences with the music director, [[Riccardo Muti]]. The resulting staff backlash caused serious disruptions and staff strikes. In a statement, the theatre's board said it was "urgent to unify the theatre's management". On 16 March 2005, the La Scala orchestra and other staff overwhelmingly approved a no-confidence motion against Muti. They demanded the resignation of Fontana's replacement, Mauro Meli. Muti had already been forced to cancel a concert a few days earlier because of the disagreements. Italy's culture minister, [[Giuliano Urbani]], supported the conductor but called for urgent action by management to safeguard the smooth operation and prestige of La Scala. On 2 April 2005, Muti resigned from La Scala, citing "hostility" from staff members. {{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In May 2005, [[Stéphane Lissner]], formerly head of the [[Aix-en-Provence Festival]], was appointed General Manager and artistic director of La Scala, becoming the first non-Italian in its history to hold the office. On 15 May 2006, [[Daniel Barenboim]] was named ''Maestro Scaligero'', or ''de facto'' principal guest conductor of the company. In October 2011, Barenboim was appointed the next music director of La Scala, effective December 2011, with an initial contract of 5 years.<ref>{{cite news| title=Barenboim to head La Scala| url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/barenboim-to-head-la-scala| work=[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]| location=London| date=14 October 2011| access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref> In December 2013, management named [[Riccardo Chailly]] the next music director of La Scala, effective 1 January 2015.<ref name="Chailly">[http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/riccardo-chailly-to-be-la-scalas-new-music-director It's official: Riccardo Chailly to be La Scala's new music director], ''Gramophone'' (London). 10 December 2013.</ref>

Stéphane Lissner left La Scala for the [[Paris Opera]]. His successor {{Interlanguage link multi|Alexander Pereira|de}}, formerly director of the [[Salzburg Festival]], began his tenure on 1 October 2014.<ref>{{cite news| title=Alexander Pereira to Begin La Scala Tenure in October 2014, Year Earlier Than Originally Announced| url=http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2013/7/News/Pereira_to_La_Scala_2014.html| work=[[Opera News]]| date=19 July 2013| access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> In June 2019 it was announced that Pereira will leave in 2020 and will be replaced by [[Dominique Meyer]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/article195693091/Teatro-alla-Scala-Meyer-soll-Pereira-in-Mailand-abloesen.html|title=Teatro alla Scala: Meyer soll Pereira in Mailand ablösen|last=Brug|first=Manuel|date=22 June 2019|access-date=31 July 2019}}</ref> La Scala was originally selected to host the opening ceremony of the [[134th IOC Session]] in 2019, but the event was moved to [[Lausanne]], Switzerland after Milan submitted a [[Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics|joint bid]] with [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]] for the [[2026 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite press release| url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-elects-milan-as-host-of-the-ioc-session-in-2019| title=IOC Elects Milan as Host of the IOC Session in 2019| date=15 September 2017| publisher=International Olympic Committee| access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref>