I’ll be headed to Italy soon and I’m flying into Milan mainly because I found such a great airfare on Emirates back in February. I’m flying non-stop from JFK in New York to Malpensa in Milan for less than $600 round trip. How can you beat that?
Photo by Emirates AirlineI really hadn’t planned on an agenda in Milan, but decided to stay for two days before flying to the south of Italy. I’ve often dreamed of going to an opera at La Scala, the world’s most prestigious opera house. Inaugurated 238 years ago, La Scala holds 2000 people and I’ve heard that it is difficult to obtain tickets, and also that they are expensive.
Teatro alla Scala Photo by IK’s World Trip (Flickr)I decided to check on the dates I’m in Milan to see if any performances were scheduled. Imagine my excitement when I saw that indeed an opera was on the schedule for one of the evenings. I went to the Teatro alla Scala website and actually found it to be in English and easy to navigate. I checked prices and was able to easily see which seating corresponded to the pricing.
La Scala Photo by Ana and Michal (Flickr)I had hoped for a seat in one of the boxes, since I knew the stalls on the floor would be too expensive, plus I like the boxes. From my first opera experience in Palermo, I felt like a VIP in one of those boxes.
And I definitely knew I didn’t want to sit in the top two tiers known as the gallery, or loggione. Apparently at this theatre, the patrons who buy these cheap seats have a reputation for booing the opera singers. They are known as the loggionisti, and are merciless in their judgment of the performers. They even booed Luciano Pavarotti in his 1992 performance of Verdi’s Don Carlo.
I also have heard that many of the seats in the boxes have limited vision of the stage, and the website conveniently allows you to click on the seat before purchasing it, so you can actually see what your view would be from there. I found this very helpful and was able to decide on a seat in one of the boxes and purchase a ticket.
So I am going to the opera in Milan for less than €100. Stay tuned!
Have you been to La Scala or attended an opera in Italy? I’d love to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment.
Grazie and Ciao.
If you haven’t stopped by my Instagram page lately, please check it out. Lots of images from Italy there.
Book Club Mom
Wow have fun at the opera. I have only been to one opera, Otello at the Met in New York – years and years ago. I guess it’s time for me to go again!
margieinitaly
An opera in NYC at the Met would truly be an experience!!! Yes I think it’s time for you to go again!! Thanks Barbara
TravelsWithRae
I will be anxious to hear about your experience with Emirates. Have been watching them since last year.
Have a blast in Milan!!
margieinitaly
Oh yes, Rae-I will keep you posted. I have heard nothing but good things from my friends who have flown on Emirates. Vediamo. Thanks so much for commenting
Un po' di pepe
How exciting! Which opera will you see? My dream is to see Aida at l’arena di Verona. Chissà….un giorno?
margieinitaly
I hope that dream comes true one day Cristina! Thank you so much… I wish it were an Italian opera. It is the British opera The Turn of the Screw.
Vino Travels
Awesome! Those prices you posted on Facebook are crazy. Id go now too if I could. It will be great to see the opera there.
margieinitaly
Thanks Jenn…I agree about the low airfare prices now. And I’d say with your new bambino you have other things occupying your time!! LOL! He is a cutie
Vino Travels
Thanks, but all these trips you guys are going on is making me jealous! ; )
PostcardZ from Victoria
Very exciting to just be there for a performance! Favoloso!
margieinitaly
Grazie Victoria!! I think so too!
Stacy di Anna
How wonderful! Have you been able to see The Last Supper in previous trips to Milan? I hope so and if not, I highly recommend it. Happy travel planning!
margieinitaly
I have not…Thank you for reminding me…I need to see it!
Stacy di Anna
I’ll be posting more about it next week but lmk if you want more details. We booked thru a tour group, a little extra cost but worth it for the valuable art history info we received by doing so. 🙂
margieinitaly
Great Thank you. I look forward to your post!
Annmarie
Lucky girl! And, yes, I am a little green too! Have a fabulous time!
margieinitaly
Thank you Annmarie!
Anonymous
Margie….Multo (Multi?) fantastico! ENJOY. All the best,
Gene
margieinitaly
Grazie Gene..I always appreciate your support. I think you’re right with molto!
Paula
I am so envious of your wonderful air fare! I always fly Emirates but I won’t tell you how much we have to pay return to Milan from Australia😩
My daughter’s sister-in-law is a very successfull opera singer in Italy (Jessica Pratt) and she has performed around the world including at La Scala and La Fenice. We will be arriving in Milan towards the end of September and not long after that will be joining Victoria on her wonderful Puglia tour. Italy is always such a good idea! I hope you enjoy the opera!
margieinitaly
Thanks so much Paula and I know you will have the best time on Victoria’s small group tour in Puglia. I went last spring and had a fantastic time, much more than I could have imagined! Yes unfortunately the airfares to and from Australia are not low, so I have heard , yet I have met a lot of Australians who do love to come to Italy. Awesome that you have an opera singer close to the family!
dollygoolsby
Once again, I am jealous. I have toured La Scala, but was never in Milan while performances were being held. I have, however, gone to the opera in Verona at the Arena several times. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances there. Like you, I went online, found seats within my price range in the location I wanted. I have also gone to performances at the Puccini Festival near Viareggio. And one performance at the Boboli Gardens in Florence. There is nothing like seeing live opera on an Italian stage. You are so fortunate.
margieinitaly
Dolly, Thank you for your interesting perspective…You’ve had many more experiences than I at these classical events in Italy and I know you have enjoyed them tremendously. I toured the Verona Arena while they were setting up for an event and I could imagine what it would have been like! Yes I am excited to actually attend an opera in this famous opera house. Stay tuned for details after I return from Italy!
Maggie Tosa
Lucky you!
margieinitaly
Thanks Maggie..I’ll be writing all about it later in the year!
Anonymous
That all sounds pretty amazing. Wish I had the nerve to take off alone like that. Have a great adventure.
margieinitaly
Thanks for stopping by….It started with the idea that I wanted to go to Italy for a long time and i knew nobody else would be able to get the time off, so I made my own plans… That was how this blog began and eventually I wrote a book about it. I believe you can do anything if you want it badly enough. https://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Solo-Traveler-Affair-Italy-ebook/dp/B0094W7DZU