La Scala scales back on productions due to crisis
Milan's famed La Scala theater scales back on opera productions in response to crisis
MILAN (AP) -- La Scala's manager says the 2013-14 season will have three fewer operas than usual due to the economic crisis.
Stephane Lissner said Thursday that the season will feature 10 operas instead of the usual 13. They will include three by Giuseppe Verdi in honor of the bicentennial celebration of his birth on Oct. 10, 1813. The Dec. 7 gala season opener will be Verdi's "Traviata" conducted by Daniele Gatti.
Lissner said he resisted suggestions of raising ticket prices or cutting back on rehearsals to deal with the budget crunch, but was forced to reduce the number of operas due to declining revenues.
La Scala's 2012 budget was 116 million euros ($149 million), some 37 percent coming from government sources and the rest from ticket and subscription revenue, sponsorships and tours.
