Milan: TEATRO ALLA SCALA

One of the world’s most famous opera houses, La Scala has seating for 2,013 spectators. Its acoustics and stage machinery were updated in 2004 without altering the style of the original interior. In recent years the Bavarian RSO has frequently given guest performances here.

”On our last visit we played Mahler’s Ninth. When we finished there was a tension in the air that I’ll never forget. It was a stunning performance, and I truly felt that we could hear ourselves very well, even inside the ensemble.” Franz Scheuerer, violin

Statements of the Musicians

“When you step onto the platform you’re gripped by the majesty of the space, especially the auditorium. The acoustics are dry, but unlike many other opera houses I don’t have the feeling that the tone is sucked away from beneath the instrument.” – Franz Scheuerer, first violin

“La Scala, Milan, is not a concert hall per se but an opera house. I play into the loft with my tuba and have the feeling that my sound doesn’t reach the orchestra or the audience. Even so, it’s a great experience to play here: the Milan audience is probably the most appreciative in Europe.” – Stefan Tischler, tuba

“You have to surrender to La Scala. The moment you force things and actively try to make the auditorium ring, you wind up with the sharp end of the stick. But it works very well if you play more defensively and listen closely to the others.” Carsten Duffin, horn.

“I have the feeling that it’s hard to make the timpani come to life here. One reason is the material that the stage is made of. The sonic substance is missing, and it’s hard to know how loud you can play.” – Raymond Curfs, timpani

Exerpt of the rehearsal in 360°

Recording date: 5 February 2017
Mahler, Symphony No. 9
Conductor: Mariss Jansons

The following technical prerequisites apply to this spatial audio:
– On the PC and Mac in the browsers Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Microsoft Edge (in Safari you only hear a “fixed” stereo)
– Android from 4.2 or higher in the Youtube Android app
– iOS, you can only hear a fixed stereo in the Youtube iOS app