Boris Godunov at La Scala and the events in the city
To celebrate the opening night of Teatro alla Scala season

From December 1st to December 7th, 2022 free events will take Modest Petrovič Musorgskij’s Boris Godunov in streets, piazzas, theatres and even… prisons. The City of Milano and Edison, jointly organize Prima Diffusa (Opening Night for Everyone) with public screenings, concerts, performances, exhibitions and meetings dedicated to La Scala’s First Night of the season, in over 30 venues.
With Prima Diffusa, the creative energy of Opera Theatre is everywhere.
All screenings, concerts and performances offer free admission, subject to availability, unless otherwise indicated.
Take a look at the complete programme below.
Music director Riccardo Chailly inaugurates the Teatro alla Scala 2022/2023 Opera and Ballet Season with Boris Godunov by Modest Petrovič Musorgskij.
For his ninth opening of the La Scala season, Chailly has made an unprecedented choice to direct this profoundly human narrative in which personal drama is reflected in collective tragedy, made even more meaningful by the choice of the opera’s original version.
Directed by Kasper Holten, former Director of the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, it presents an overview of the history of Russia, combining emotional participation with a reflection on the value of memory and testimony.
Popular musical drama in a prologue and three acts (1869 version).
Chorus and Orchestra
Teatro alla Scala
Conductor
Riccardo Chailly
Stage direction
Kasper Holten
Sets
Es Devlin
Costumes
Ida Marie Ellekilde
Lighting
Jonas Bǿgh
Video
Luke Halls
Duration: three hours
Prima della Scala will be screened live, with free admission, in numerous locations around Milano (admission free unless otherwise indicated), to unite all opera lovers in the city, novices and aficionados alike.
In chosen locations, the screening of Boris Godunov will be preceded by listening guides to the opera (in Italian), curated by Accademia Teatro alla Scala.
If you are near the Duomo on December 7th, don't miss the screening live in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II!
Thursday December 1st, 2022, 6:00pm
Castello Sforzesco, Sala della Balla – Piazza Castello
The inaugural event represents an important date to bring the public closer to the First Night at La Scala. The musicologist Fabio Sartorelli will not only illustrate the plot and characters of Boris Godunov but, thanks to a captivating and engaging storyline and the musical interpretation entrusted to the Teatro alla Scala Academy students, will guide the audience in understanding the historical, social and cultural context of the period in which Musorgsky composed the work.
Performance by the solo singers and a quartet of musicians from the Teatro alla Scala Academy.
Reservation required.
A series of performances and meetings, from November 30th to December 7th, will allow for a deeper appreciation of Boris Godunov and Modest Petrovič Musorgskij.
Once again, music and art come together in harmony for the Prima Diffusa 2022: exhibitions at the Milano Conservatory and WOW Spazio Fumetto offer the chance to discover a new and surprising side to Boris Godunov. Special screenings are planned at the MIC - Interactive Museum of Cinema.
Production: Direzione Cultura, Area Spettacolo del Comune di Milano and Ponderosa Music & Art.
With the collaboration of: Teatro alla Scala, Accademia Teatro alla Scala, RAI, i 9 Municipi della Città di Milano, Castello Sforzesco, Teatro Dal Verme, Teatro Carcano, Casa Circondariale San Vittore, Conservatorio di Musica “Giuseppe Verdi” di Milano, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, Sala Alma Rosè – Artepassante, Heracles Gymnasium, Auditorium Gaber - Palazzo Pirelli, Auditorium Stefano Cerri, Liceo Virgilio, Sala Gregorianum, MADE in Corvetto, WOW Spazio Fumetto, Casa dell'Accoglienza “Enzo Jannacci”, Comunità per minori non accompagnati Oklahoma, Auditorium dell’Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, PACTA dei Teatri – Salone Via Dini, Magazzino Musica – MaMu, Associazione Culturanimi, MaMu Cultura Musicale, Teatro della Casa di Reclusione Milano Opera, Teatro Edi/Barrio's, Auditorium MUDEC - Museo delle Culture, ARMANI / Silos, Biblioteca di Baggio, PuntoZero Teatro, Spazio Teatro 89, Teatro Rosetum, Mare Culturale Urbano, Auditorium Enzo Baldoni, Teatro della Cooperativa, Cineteca Milano MIC - Museo Interattivo del Cinema, MEDICINEMA, La Porta di Milano/Soglia Magica, Teatro Civico Roberto De Silva, Mumac - Museo della Macchina per Caffè del Gruppo Cimbali, Auditorium Ottavanota, BASE Milano, Scuola Musicale di Milano, Spazio Teatro Noh’ma Teresa Pomodoro.
Screening in Ottagono – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is organised thanks to Teatro alla Scala and official partners.