The 2013 Opening of Opera Season at La Scala Ignites National Controversy
What’s the opera without a bit of drama? The opening of the La Scala opera season started off with some scandal when general music director of La Scala, Daniel Barenboim, decided to open the season with music by German conductor Richard Wagner. The Italian community has become pretty inflamed that a German composer would be chosen over the work of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi considering 2013 marks the bicentennial anniversary of Verdi’s birth and that state of the Italian economy has been poor (treachery!) In addition, Verdi and Wagner were not the chummiest of colleagues and considered each other rivals. The choice by Director Barenboim was rumored to be the reason why Italian President Giorgio Napolitano didn’t show up at the season premiere of this year’s La Scala; however President Napolitano reassured Barenboim it was due to political business and that he felt the controversy to be “futile.”
On January 15th La Scala will perform a series of Verdi’s operas conducted by Daniel Harding, leading into a season that will also include works by Russian composer Alexander Raskatov and Italian composer Gioachino Rossini.
Lady Gaga Looks To Buy Gianni Versace's Former Milan Apartment
Lady Gaga has a love for all things Italian, from becoming buddies with Italian designer Donatella Versace to rumors of hunting for Italian sperm donors. The latest rumor is that the headline-making performer is looking for a bit of Italian real estate to call home. To be exact, Gaga is reportedly looking to purchase a place near 12 Via Gesu, an apartment inside which Gianni Versace lived and worked out of. Italian magazine Di Tutto is speculating that Gaga will take advantage of her neighborly proximity to Donatella and continue collaboration on an Italian take on “Haus of Gaga” – the performance art focused creative group responsible for Gaga’s attention-grabbing and often, controversial styles. Let’s hope she stays away from meat dresses… though, with the Italian love for food, who’s to say what type of edible wear she’ll be sporting next (Marinara war-paint anyone?)
While she no longer goes by surname, “Germanotta,” Lady Gaga seems to be proudly seeking out her Italian heritage. An Italian wedding to model boyfriend Taylor Kinney, possible spermination, as well as semi-permanent residency for the pop star may be in her near future.
Lady Gaga Looks To Buy Gianni Versace's Former Milan Apartment
Lady Gaga has a love for all things Italian, from becoming buddies with Italian designer Donatella Versace to rumors of hunting for Italian sperm donors. The latest rumor is that the headline-making performer is looking for a bit of Italian real estate to call home. To be exact, Gaga is reportedly looking to purchase a place near 12 Via Gesu, an apartment inside which Gianni Versace lived and worked out of. Italian magazine Di Tutto is speculating that Gaga will take advantage of her neighborly proximity to Donatella and continue collaboration on an Italian take on “Haus of Gaga” – the performance art focused creative group responsible for Gaga’s attention-grabbing and often, controversial styles. Let’s hope she stays away from meat dresses… though, with the Italian love for food, who’s to say what type of edible wear she’ll be sporting next (Marinara war-paint anyone?)
While she no longer goes by surname, “Germanotta,” Lady Gaga seems to be proudly seeking out her Italian heritage. An Italian wedding to model boyfriend Taylor Kinney, possible spermination, as well as semi-permanent residency for the pop star may be in her near future.
Adopt a Gargoyle, Save a Cathedral
The Duomo Cathedral in Milan is making interesting headway on their quest for preservation funding. As Milan's city budget tightens with the struggling world economy, the cathedral is in danger of losing its luster. According to CBC, Cathedral management decided to make a few sacrifices to prevent that from happening. In order to build Milanese and world support for the Cathedral’s upkeep, officials have put the building’s 135 protective gargoyles up for adoption. Unlike accidentally adopting a homely adopted child in real life, prospective parents in this situation will only see their little cherub from afar, yet get to bask in the glory that their names are forever engraved below the monstrously life-like drainage sculptures. The Cathedral is hoping to collect about $32 million with each gargoyle adoption bringing in about $128,000. Already, eight gargoyles have been placed (metaphorically speaking) in loving homes. There are only 127 left, so get out there and make a difference in a gargoyle’s life.
Pregnant Model Walks Milan Catwalk in Third Trimester
While Fashion Week attention transitions from New York City to Milan, one Italian model is making fashion news on runways overseas. A six-months-pregnant Raffaella Fico strutted her stuff for sexy swimwear label Pin-Up Stars on Saturday, garnering applause from some, but scolding from others. On one hand, Fico is just another model doing her job during Fashion Week— how can you frown upon a working mom? But others are upset with the pregnant model for bearing (almost) all in the third trimester of her pregnancy. What do you think? Should pregnant women flaunt their bumps or cover them up?
New Spa at Milan Four Seasons
The beautiful garden retreat of the Four Seasons Milan is excited to announce the opening of its brand new luxury spa. The...
