Mario Monti Attends La Scala "Don Giovanni" Premiere

Anna Netrebko (Donna Anna) and Giuseppe Filianoti (Don Ottavio) in Don Giovanni at La Scala

"Italian Premier Mario Monti took a short culture break from promoting his package of austerity and growth measures to attend La Scala's gala season premiere of Don Giovanni on Wednesday – a presence that La Scala's general manager hopes bodes well for the future of culture in the country that invented opera. Conducted by Daniel Barenboim and directed by Robert Carsen, the modernist and sexually

Mario Monti: Financial Savior?

charged production of Mozart's classic was enthusiastically received by an audience filled with cultural, political, fashion and business figures. Carnations showered on the performers while the audience applauded for 10 solid minutes. But this year, as Italy moves to confront a deepening financial crisis, just as important to Milan's famed opera house as the success on the stage was the presence in the audience of the head of government, head of state and four Cabinet ministers – which was taken as a signal that culture is taking center stage." [Source] One more photo of Anna Netrebko, during "Non mi dir" from the production, after the jump.