Various groups of protesters are gearing up to make their voices heard in Milan on Wednesday, when Premier Giorgia Meloni will attend the La Scala season premiere for the first time as Italy's head of government.
While these groups are of varying political orientations, they are united by the common cause of protesting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Other political heavyweights, including President Sergio Mattarella and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also set to attend the esteemed opera house's inauguration of its 2022-23 season with a performance of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov.
Earlier in the year, much criticism was levied at La Scala’s planned program of performances when the Russian opera was announced as the season opener.
Groups from Milan’s anti-capitalist centres such as ‘il Cantiere’ and ‘il Lambretta’ have announced that they will stage a protest at the premiere.
The Cobas left-wing union has also said that its members will also take to the streets, and that they intend to stage a ‘candle-lit dinner’ stunt, drawing attention to the fact that 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, protesting 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 Moscow’s potential use of the news as propaganda.
