Renovated La Scala opera house to reopen

La Scala is back where it belongs.

After a three-year exile on the city’s outskirts, the famed opera company is returning to its renovated 18th century theater in the heart of Milan in time for its traditional Dec. 7 opening night.

The contested renovation was completed a few weeks ahead of schedule, giving conductor Riccardo Muti time for rehearsals of Antonio Salieri’s “Europa Riconosciuta,” the opera that will inaugurate the 2004-05 season as it did La Scala’s first season in 1778.

Muti tested acoustics of the “new” La Scala with a 40-minute rehearsal last week and theater officials reported that the maestro broke into applause at the end to express his satisfaction with the quality of the sound.

“It was very emotional to return to your home after a long absence and find it more splendid and more welcoming than before,” Muti said.

“Muti shared with me his enthusiasm about the acoustic quality of the new theater,” said Milan Mayor Gabriele Albertini, whose government approved and financed part of the $67-million renovation, which began in early 2002.

The renovation -- which preservationists went to court in a vain attempt to block -- added storage and service space behind the stage and stripped away carpeting and linoleum to reveal Venetian marble floors in the corridors and terra-cotta tiles in the boxes.

The tapestry was completely remade in silk while the stalls, gallery and box seats were covered with red velvet -- the color of the huge curtain.

Mario Botta, the project architect, said the structure of the stage and the spectator section were untouched while the work behind the scene added precious storage space for sets that will allow the opera house to mount more productions and performances to meet growing demand for seats.

In another modern touch, screens were mounted on each seat to allow the operagoers to follow the libretto in English, French or Italian. That innovation has been successfully tested at the Arcimboldi theater, which was built in a former industrial area to serve as La Scala’s temporary home during renovation.

City officials plan to show the opening performance live on huge screens set up near La Scala and at the Arcimboldi and Dal Verme theaters, allowing thousands of residents and tourists to share in the celebrations.