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The famed Teatro alla Scala’s new season will open with “Boris Godunov” by Modest Mussorgsky, ANSA reported, citing the program, released by the opera house’s General Manager Dominique Meyer on Monday.
“I do not hunt witches, I am not up to cancelling Russian operas, and when I read Pushkin, I do not hide,” Meyer was quoted by the news agency as saying.
La Scala opens new seasons on December 7, marking the holiday for Milan’s patron Saint Ambrose. Soprano singer Anna Netrebko, who had often starred in season premieres, initially cancelled her appearance at La Scala because of discrimination against Russian artists over the conflict in Ukraine, but later moved to return with a concert, as the theater administration said she was always welcome back. Conductor Valery Gergiyev, however, was forced to give up a performance as he had refused to condemn Russian policies, something Milan’s mayor had demanded.
Riccardo Chailly will conduct Boris Godudov, based on Alexander Pushkin’s eponymous drama, and Russia’s Ildar Abdrazakov will star, according to the opera house’s website.
The program also features The Nutcracker and Swan Lake ballets by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and Romeo and Juliette by Sergey Prokofiev.
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