Various groups of protesters are preparing to make their voices heard in Milan on Wednesday when Premier Giorgia Meloni will attend the La Scala premiere for the first time as Italy’s head of government. The groups have different political orientations but all will make common cause to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Other political leaders like President Sergio Mattarella and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be in attendance when the iconic opera house kicks off its 2022-23 season with a performance of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov. Previously, there had been much criticism on the planned program of performances when the Russian opera was announced as the season opener.
Groups from Milan anti-capitalist centers such as ‘il Cantiere’ and ‘il Lambretta’ said they will stage a protest. The Cobas left.wing union has said its members will be on the streets too and they also intend to stage a “candle-light dinner’ stunt to show how people are unable to afford to pay their energy bills because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Representatives of the Ukrainian community will be present as well to protest against Russia’s invasion of their country. Ukraine’s consul in Milan had asked La Scala not to open its season with Boris Godunov to avert possible propaganda use of it by Moscow.
