Meloni’s debut at the Scala in Milan, between Mattarella and von Der Leyen

On the stage of honor are the premier Giorgia Meloni, the president of the European Commission Ursula von Der Leyen and the head of state Sergio Mattarella: “Thank you, president”, the crowd chanted, after giving the tenant of the Quirinale 5 minutes of applause and a standing ovation, while he thanked, almost moved, putting his hand to his heart. The first season of the Opera is staged at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan – Boris Godunov’ by Modest Petrovic Musorgskij – conducted by maestro Riccardo Chailly. The mayor of Milan is also on the Royal stage Beppe Sala and the president of the Senate Ignatius LaRussa.

Before the show, the Italian anthem and then the Ode to Joy, the official one of the European Union. After this morning’s environmental protests, those of the Ukrainian community in Milan also arrived, critical of the decision to inaugurate the season with a Russian opera: about twenty people, in the square in front of the theatre, displayed flags against Putin and placards against the Russian musicians who support the war. “You know my position on the subject of the conflict in Ukraine but I think culture is something else and I think we shouldn’t make the mistake of mixing dimensions that are different,” Meloni said, trying to dampen the controversy. “We are not angry with the Russian people or with Russian history – he continued – but with the choices of those who have politically decided to invade a sovereign nation”. The prime minister also said she was “intrigued, it’s my first time here”.

Also present in the Theater, among others, were the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiulianothe Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, the Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, government share. And then the senator for life Liliana Segrethe president of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana and well-known faces from the economy, culture and entertainment, such as the president of Mediaset Fedele Confalonieri, Mario Monti, Gianni Letta.

And there was as well Joseph Conteas a guest of the Opera cardinal Ferrari association, the same one he visited this afternoon – before the show in the theater – during his tour of the suburbs, which took him to Naples in recent days and today to Milan and Turin .