Teatro Alla Scala Presents EXCELSIOR, Jan.20-Feb.9

Teatro Alla Scala Presents EXCELSIOR from 20 January to 9 February 2012.

In 1881, La Scala’s curtain opened for the first time on Excelsior, “a choreographic composition, historical, allegorical, imaginary, in six acts and eleven scenes” celebrating the triumph of Light and Civilization over Obscurantism. To a libretto and choreography by Luigi Manzotti, score by Romualdo Marenco and sets by Alfredo Edel, the ballet features the steamship, Volta’s battery, telegraphy, the Suez Canal and the Mont Cenis Tunnel in a celebration of the achievements of scientific and industrial Progress, uniting humanity in a common bond.

Excelsior enjoyed a run of more than 100 performances in its first season at home and a series of tours abroad, thanks to its symbolic and allegorical worth, which embodied the spirit of the age.

The new 1967 Crivelli/Dell’Ara/Carpi/Coltellacci production, in performance at La Scala since 1974, offers a lighter version of the original in its construction, orchestration, mime and cast (originally numbering over 500 extras) while maintaining the creativity of Manzotti’s ballet and the nostalgic flavour of the Italian spirit in dance.

Roberto Bolle will open La Scala’s 2011/2012 ballet season.

It has choreography by Ugo Dell'Ara, staging by Filippo Crivelli which was revived by Patrizia Frini, music by Romualdo Marenco, musical review by Fiorenzo Carpi e Bruno Nicolai, is conducted by David Coleman and Alessandro Ferrari (8 Feb.), has sets by Giulio Coltellacci and Michele Della Cioppa, and costumes by Giulio Coltellacci.

TICKETS are € 115, € 95, € 66, € 55, € 45, € 33, € 16, € 10. For tickets visit http://sell.charta.it/cgi-bin/mrscala?org_code=153&retire=off&language=eng&filtro=excelsior.

For more information about this production including a full synopsis visit http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/season/opera-ballet/2011-2012/excelsior.html.

Teatro Alla Scala is located at Via Filodrammatici 2, 20121 Milano, Italy. For more information call +39.02.88.79.1 or visit http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/index.html.

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