Everything went as it should. Lat Prima della Scala it proved to be a success. Eleven minutes of applause concluded the most important artistic event of the year. Verdi's Giovanna D'Arco is back in Milan after 150 years, a tribute to France. The backdrop was 700 agents and snipers who manned the square of the temple of music in Milan, checking the guests in parallel thanks to the metal detectors placed at the entrance.
A top-level cultural event which was also attended by the Prime Minister Matthew Renzi. “Let's not lock ourselves at home – said the premier after the first act – it is also a message for the Jubilee: we must have courage in a difficult season. Today is a day of celebration it was essential to be there. The Prima is always a cultural message for the world, and the hope is that Italy can make its voice heard”.
Before the opera, the “classical” protest against social centers who protested against opulence and pomp, displaying a banner on Palazzo Marino “Hundreds of rich, billions of poor. This is the state of emergency." Then a "popular fashion show", in contrast with the elegance of the patrons of La Scala.
Smoke grenades, slogans and some small tension before the start, but the forces of order, with bulletproof vests and machine guns, preferred not to intervene.
In the royal box, the French ambassador in Italy, Catherine Colonna, together with Renzi, his wife Agnese and the Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini: "We need to guarantee the safety of citizens with all possible resources - said the minister - but at the same time we must continue to live”. Also present were the Mayor Giuliano Pisapia, the Minister of Infrastructure Graziano Delrio, the former prefect of Milan and commissioner in Rome Francesco Paolo Tronca, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Carlo Sangalli, Alessandro Profumo, Tommaso Cucchiani, Diana Bracco, the CEO of Poste Francesco Caio, the former premier Mario Monti, Gianni Letta and Corrado Passera.
On stage, in the leading role, Charles VII played by Francesco Meli, and of course Joan of Arc, a very good Anna Netrebko who played the role perfectly, without smudging or over the top tones. Riccardo Chailly conducted the work in a powerful way, making the most of the singers, while the chorus directed by Bruno Casoni was impeccable. The direction of Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier is also good. As for the sets, they are by Christian Fenouillat while the costumes are by Agostino Cavalca.
Finally, it is impossible not to report the forfeit, due to health reasons, of the baritone Carlos Alvarez, replaced in the role of Giacomo by Devid Cecconi. Before the start of the Mameli national anthem, it was the superintendent himself, Alexander Pereira, who announced the replacement. The latter emphasized “the causal homage” to France, stating that “music must always overcome all the crises in the world, sometimes in life things get sidetracked without anyone knowing it. However, there is also God who directs a bit”.
