عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

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)
TT
TT

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.

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

Rain Helps Southern California Firefighters but Sends Ash and Mud Flowing Down Hillsides

This aerial image provided by KABC-TV shows a mud-covered road, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Topanga, Calif. (KABC-TV via AP)
This aerial image provided by KABC-TV shows a mud-covered road, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Topanga, Calif. (KABC-TV via AP)
TT
TT

Rain Helps Southern California Firefighters but Sends Ash and Mud Flowing Down Hillsides

This aerial image provided by KABC-TV shows a mud-covered road, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Topanga, Calif. (KABC-TV via AP)
This aerial image provided by KABC-TV shows a mud-covered road, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Topanga, Calif. (KABC-TV via AP)

Rain eased on Monday after Southern California's first significant storm of the season brought weekend downpours that aided firefighters but caused ash, mud and debris to flow across streets in wildfire-burned areas.

Less than an inch of rain fell in most areas, but it was enough to loosen Los Angeles hillsides burned bare by the recent blaze near the Pacific Palisades, where crews working before dawn cleared inundated roadways including the famed Pacific Coast Highway.

In neighboring Malibu, four schools were closed Monday “due to dangerous road conditions and challenges with access,” the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said in a statement.

North of Los Angeles, snowy conditions late Sunday shut down the mountainous Tejon Pass section of Interstate 5, a key north-south artery. The California Department of Transportation said there was no estimated reopening time.

A winter storm warning remained in place until 4 p.m. Monday for mountains across San Bernardino and Riverside counties, where more than a foot (0.30 meters) of snow was predicted.

Flood watches also were in effect for the Palisades, Altadena and Castaic Lake, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service's office for Los Angeles.

“All these fresh burns are very susceptible to rapid runoff,” Sirard said Sunday.

Los Angeles International Airport reported just under an inch of rain (2.5 centimeters) in 24 hours ending at 3 a.m. Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported. Surrounding areas experienced lesser amounts.

The rain came Saturday after months of dry and often gusty weather that created dangerous fire conditions. The downpours were a boon for firefighters but created the risk of toxic ash runoff.

Los Angeles County crews spent much of last week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in areas devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires, which reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash after breaking out during powerful winds on Jan. 7.

The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 11 people, reached 94% containment Monday. The Eaton Fire, which broke out near Altadena and has killed at least 16 people, was 98% contained.

The Hughes Fire, which ignited north of Los Angeles last week and caused evacuation orders or warnings for more than 50,000 people, was 95% contained as of Monday morning.

In San Diego County, firefighters made progress to contain the smaller Border 2 Fire as it burned through a remote area of the Otay Mountain Wilderness near the US-Mexico border.

Most of the region was forecast to get about an inch of precipitation over several days and the weather service warned of localized cloudbursts causing mud and debris to flow down hills.

“So the problem would be if one of those showers happens to park itself over a burn area,” weather service meteorologist Carol Smith said on social media. “That could be enough to create debris flows.”

City and county officials last week expedited cleanup efforts and other measures aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants.

Officials cautioned that ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. It contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Residents were urged to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

Concerns about post-fire debris flows have been especially high since 2018, when the town of Montecito, up the coast from Los Angeles, was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes charred by a huge wildfire. Hundreds of homes were damaged and 23 people died.

The rain ended a near-record streak of dry weather for Southern California. Most of Southern California is currently in “extreme drought” or “severe drought,” according to the US Drought Monitor.