La Scala, Opera house in central Milan, Italy
La Scala is a neoclassical opera house on Piazza della Scala in central Milan. Its pale stone facade has a ground-level arcade of round arches, a balustraded terrace above, and a triangular pediment with relief sculpture crowned by small statues. The auditorium holds 1,987 seats in six tiers of boxes, with the loggione galleries above.
La Scala opened on 3 August 1778 with Salieri's Europa riconosciuta, in a building designed by Giuseppe Piermarini. It replaced the Teatro Regio Ducale, destroyed by fire in February 1776, and was built on the site of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala. The theatre was rebuilt after bombing in 1943 and reopened on 11 May 1946 under Arturo Toscanini.
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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