La Scala Opera House Organizes Closed Audience-free Concert

A worker walks as Italy's La Scala opera house reopens to the
public for the first time since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
outbreak, with new social distancing and hygiene rules, in Milan,
Italy, on June 21, 2020. (REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)
A worker walks as Italy's La Scala opera house reopens to the public for the first time since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, with new social distancing and hygiene rules, in Milan, Italy, on June 21, 2020. (REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)
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La Scala Opera House Organizes Closed Audience-free Concert

A worker walks as Italy's La Scala opera house reopens to the
public for the first time since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
outbreak, with new social distancing and hygiene rules, in Milan,
Italy, on June 21, 2020. (REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)
A worker walks as Italy's La Scala opera house reopens to the public for the first time since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, with new social distancing and hygiene rules, in Milan, Italy, on June 21, 2020. (REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)

La Scala opera house organized an exceptional event featuring stars including Placido Domingo, and Roberto Alagna on December 7, in its closed auditorium due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it would be broadcasted on TV.

Milan's famed La Scala opera house announced in a press conference the program of the evening "A riveder le stelle" (Seeing the stars again) which will be held despite the closure of theaters and the persisting health crisis.

According to AFP, the event is aimed at maintaining the Italian tradition of holding one of the biggest cultural events in the country on the Saint Ambrose's Day, on December 7, the annual date of the house's season-opener.

"Twenty four of the greatest operatic voices of today will gather on December 7 in Milan to express solidarity with this theater affected the most by the pandemic. The second wave of COVID-19 has led to the cancelation of all performances scheduled since September," the house said in a statement.

"La Scala and RAI state television in Italy will work together on this evening "full of hope and determination" to "deliver the values of opera and dancing to Italians in their houses through their favorite artists," the statement added, noting that the concert will also be broadcasted in Germany, France, and many countries on channel ARTE.

In addition to Alagna and Domingo, the event will feature singers Ildar Abdrazakov, Carlos Álvarez, Piotr Beczala, Benjamin Bernheim, Eleonora Buratto, Marianne Crebassa, Rosa Feola, Francesco Meli, Camilla Nylund, and many others.

Directed by Michele Gamba, the ballet segment will see the participation of star Roberto Bolle, along with dancers Martina Arduino, Claudio Coviello, Nicoletta Manni, and Virna Toppi.

The evening is also set to include segments from opera Giuseppe Verdi, Gaetano Donizetti, Giacomo Puccini, Georges Bizet, Jules Masenet, Richard Wagner, and Gioachino Rossini, in addition to ballet music by Tchaïkovsky, Davide Dileo, Erick Satie, and Giuseppe Verdi. Choreography will be led by Manuel Legris, Rudolf Noureev, and Massimiliano Volpini.

In addition to operas and dance performances, a number of actors will read some literary extracts. A special arrangement has been made for this exceptional performance, which will be held without an audience. The orchestra will be located in the center of the hall, while the artists will not only be on the main stage, but also in other areas of the famous house.



Pigeon Rescue Crew Find Peace in Tending London’s Flocks 

Pigeons walk in a park in the Hackney area of London, Britain, May 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Pigeons walk in a park in the Hackney area of London, Britain, May 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Pigeon Rescue Crew Find Peace in Tending London’s Flocks 

Pigeons walk in a park in the Hackney area of London, Britain, May 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Pigeons walk in a park in the Hackney area of London, Britain, May 7, 2025. (Reuters)

Seeking solace in a turbulent world, Jennie Brennan and Jacob Peter have found an unlikely source of wellbeing: quietly rescuing and rehabilitating London's pigeons.

Pigeons in urban areas often suffer from a preventable condition known as "stringfoot," in which litter such as thread, fishing line or human hair becomes entangled around their toes. Untreated, the birds can lose a toe, or even a whole foot.

"There are so many problems in my life, in the lives of people I care about, and in the world generally, that I can't really do anything about," Brennan, of the London Pigeon Rescue, told Reuters.

"But what I can do is save a pigeon's life, or their toes, or restore their abilities. That might seem like a small difference, but to that pigeon, it's massive."

On rescues, the pair of volunteers use seeds to attract pigeons, then gently cover them with a kitchen towel before removing any constricting debris with scissors or pliers.

"It's a man-made problem,” Brennan said. "I think someone needs to be responsible for helping them with the problem that we've created."

Brennan first began feeding pigeons during the COVID-19 lockdown after reading they were going hungry. Over time, she began noticing injuries and sought help on Facebook from Peter, who was already rescuing birds.

Since then, the two have worked together and attempted to tend to the birds three to four times a week, often responding to tips from concerned members of the public.

"Liking pigeons as much as I do means that I have little friends everywhere I go. So if I'm busy running stressful errands and feeling a bit sorry for myself and I see a couple of pigeons passing, it just brightens my day up," Brennan said.