Prima della Scala

The Scala's December 7th

The Prima della Scala is much more than an opera evening: it is the ritual that every year, on December 7th – the day of Sant'Ambrogio, patron saint of Milan – opens the opera season of the Teatro alla Scala, on Via Filodrammatici. It is an event that engages the entire city: the streets of the center, the cafes, the newspapers, the institutions. For Milanese people (and for Italy watching the live broadcast) the Prima symbolically marks the beginning of winter and the holiday season.

The 2026 Opera: Otello

For the 2026-2027 season, the curtain rises on Otello by Giuseppe Verdi, one of the absolute masterpieces of the repertoire. The direction is entrusted to Damiano Michieletto, among the most requested Italian directors internationally, while on the podium is Myung-Whun Chung, in his debut as music director of the Teatro alla Scala: a historic moment for the Milanese institution.

Between Art and City Identity

The Prima is also a major social and media event: the theatre's foyer welcomes authorities, cultural and entertainment personalities, while in the square, enthusiasts and the curious gather, sometimes accompanied by demonstrations. But the heart remains the music: Milan's Scala (Province of Milan, Lombardy) is one of the world's temples of opera, and its opening night is followed by theatres and opera lovers from all over the world.

An Event to Experience

Attending the Prima live is a rare and highly sought-after experience, with tickets among the most requested of the year. But the event can also be experienced outside the theatre, thanks to the "Prima Diffusa" initiatives that bring opera to various locations in the city, and the live television broadcast that makes it a collective event.