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La Scala Opens Season With Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth on Dec. 7, Live on Rai 1

The staging restores the original 1934 version to honor the composer’s 50th anniversary.

Overview

  • Riccardo Chailly conducts and Vasily Barkhatov directs a production that highlights the opera’s violent and sexual content long associated with Stalin-era censorship.
  • The live broadcast starts at 17:45 on Rai 1 and RaiPlay, is produced in 4K with audio description, and will remain available on demand for 15 days.
  • The premiere is sold out with roughly 2,000 seats and box office near €3 million, with prominent political, cultural and entertainment figures expected in attendance.
  • An Under‑30 preview on 4 December drew enthusiastic reception with about ten minutes of applause as many young attendees reported not being unsettled by the strong scenes.
  • Teatro alla Scala has added content notices on subtitle tablets and, for the first time, a red warning light to flag potentially shocking material.