This evening, December 7, Milan’s Teatro alla Scala marks its traditional season opening with Giuseppe Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, a melodrama directed by Riccardo Chailly and staged by Leo Muscato. Held annually on Saint Ambrose’s Day, the city’s patron, this iconic event boasts a star-studded cast including Anna Netrebko as Donna Leonora and Brian Jagde as Don Alvaro. Tickets for this celebrated night range from €3,200 for orchestra seating to €50 for gallery spots.
Premiering in 1862 in Saint Petersburg, La Forza del Destino reached its definitive version at La Scala in 1869 and has been absent from the venue’s repertoire since 2001. The opera tells a story of love, tragedy, and revenge, as Donna Leonora seeks sanctuary in a monastery following the accidental death of her father during her attempted elopement with Don Alvaro. Pursued by her vengeful brother Don Carlo, played by Ludovic Tézier, Leonora’s journey unfolds against the dramatic backdrop of Verdi’s masterful score.
Ticket prices reflect the exclusivity of the event. Orchestra seats uniformly cost €3,200, regardless of location, while boxes vary by level and visibility, ranging from €900 to €3,200 for first-row seats. The gallery offers more affordable options, with prices starting at €50 for lateral spots and increasing to €450 for premium views. Despite the range in cost, the La Scala opening remains an unmatched cultural highlight for opera enthusiasts worldwide.
