News from the Arts World

From The Economist Cities Guide: Milan

Sing it Again, Juan

For the first time since 1933 a soloist has performed an encore during an opera at Milan’s Teatro Alla Scala. The practice is not unknown in other opera houses, but Juan Diego Flórez, a Peruvian tenor, broke a local taboo when he repeated “Ah! Mes Amis” from Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” at an opening-night performance on February 20th. The encore followed five minutes of applause for the aria, whose nine high Cs are seen as a demonstration of virtuosity in a tenor.

Arturo Toscanini, La Scala's conductor in 1898-1908 and 1921-29, was the first to forbid encores, believing they spoiled the pace of the drama. The last singer to give one was Fyodor Shalyapin, a Russian bass, during a 1933 performance of Rossini’s “Barbiere di Siviglia”. Since then, only the chorus has performed encores—and on just three occasions. Critics applauded the musical qualities of Mr Flórez’s performance, but many agree with Toscanini’s principle and would prefer to keep encores out of the opera house.

Meanwhile, concert-goers who heard Yolanda Kondonassis perform with the Oklahoma City Symphony on March 3 are rushing out to buy her new disk "Breathe: The Relaxing Harp." Despite the kitschy title, the playing is remarkable. All the pieces are solo except the first, and the sound she gets out of her instrument is most impressive.