La Scala, Opera house in central Milan, Italy
La Scala is an opera house in central Milan with 2030 seats, spread across seven floors. The auditorium is known for its acoustics and shows a neoclassical interior with gilded boxes and red velvet.
Giuseppe Piermarini designed the building, which opened on August 3, 1778, with Salieri's Europa riconosciuta. It was built after a fire destroyed the previous theater and rose on the grounds of a medieval church.
The name recalls the church of Santa Maria della Scala that once occupied this site. Opera experts gather in the upper gallery and openly react to what they see on stage, cheering or disapproving.
The season opens every year on December 7, the feast day of Saint Ambrose, the city's patron. Performances traditionally end before midnight, and tickets can be purchased at the theater box office.
The theater runs its own academy that trains singers, musicians, and dancers. Many former students have later performed on international stages.
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