Milano, Teatro alla Scala

The Teatro alla Scala, one of the first opera houses in the world, was built in two years (1777-78) (18th cent.), by Piermarini on the area where the ancient Church of Santa Maria della Scala stood (after which it was named), that had been founded in 1381 by the Queen of Scala, wife of Bernabò Visconti. It was inaugurated on August 3rd 1778 with the opera "L'Europa Riconosciuta" by Salieri. At that time, the hall had a coloured decoration with Baroque architectonical motifs that, in 1807, was replaced by another of a neoclassic style, by the famous art director G. Perego; the final decorations were made in 1830 by the famous art director A. Sanquirico (1777-1849).The vault, which at the beginning had an allegorical painting by Hayez, in 1830 was decorated with sham lacunar ceilings and ceiling roses. The stage, that had been enlarged by Canonica in the second decade of the 19th century, one hundred years later was additionally changed and modernised, and a tier of boxes was replaced by a fifth tier of seats in the gallery. Half destroyed by the bombing in 1943, the Teatro della Scala was the first large monument of the city to undergo restoration. On the eve of May 11th, 1946 the Scala officially re-opened to the public with an important symphony concert directed by Toscanini. A very simple neoclassical façade, presenting a central advanced body (the two lateral parts have been added in 1850), preceded on the ground floor by a large portico with three arches. In the interior, the foyer is formed by a large white marble hall embellished with mirrors, chandeliers and neoclassical friezes. The grandiose and impressive hall, is "U" shaped with four levels of boxes and two galleries: it decorated with neoclassical gilded friezes and stuccos. Large double Corinthian columns are placed on the sides of the stage, which is 15 m wide and 15.5 m tall, whilst the fabulous Bremo chandelier, hanging from the ceiling since 1923, contains 365 lamps, one for each day of the year. Over 800 actors can perform on the stage, while the stalls, measuring over 600 sq. metres, can seat approximately 770.
In total, the Scala Theatre can potentially seat 3000, but in reality it contains 2000.