Music of Milan
Encyclopedia
The music of Milan has ancient roots. The Ambrosian chants are among the first codified music in Western culture, which fact led to the later development of our concept of scales, for example. In more recent history, the city of Milan has been an important social, cultural, political and commercial center not just in Italy, but in all of Europe.
Venues
- La ScalaLa ScalaLa Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
: by general consensus, the leading opera house in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, was built in 1778 and refurbished and reopened in 2004;
- the Milan Auditorium: opened in 1999 and the home venue for the Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
Symphony and Choir. The orchestra is the symphony for the city, having replaced the older RAI Orchestra of Milan, which was one of four such radio orchestras in Italy until they were consolidated into a single organization, now called the National Orchestra, in TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
;
- the Giuseppe Verdi music conservatory, on the premises of an ancient monastery, was rebuilt after WW2. It has a large auditorium and hosts a number of concert series, including those of the Quartet Society, the United Chamber Orchestra, the Italian Youth music series, and sundry afternoon and evening concerts;
- At least a dozen other theaters throughout the city, including the National Music Theater of Milan and the Teatro degli Arcimboldi;
- The Giuseppe Verdi Retirement Home for Musicians, unique in Italy, and rare in the world, at large. The home was Verdi's idea and royalties from his works financed the entire project. It finally opened in 1913, and since that time has provided a place for retired musicians who have nowhere else to go. Those who live there still play and sing for their own enjoyment and occasionally for visitors;
- the Milan Jazz Festival: one of the most important European venies for jazz;
- the town of Birago di Lentate sul Seveso is the site of the Strumentoteca d'arte musicale, one of the largest collections (about 6,500 pieces) in the world of musical instruments from around the world and an important source for students of ethnomusicologyEthnomusicologyEthnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
.
Museums
- The Museo Teatrale alla ScalaMuseo Teatrale alla ScalaThe Museo Teatrale alla Scala is a theatrical museum and library attached to the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. Although it has a particular focus on the history of opera and of that opera house, its scope extends to Italian theatrical history in general, and includes displays relating, for...
is a museum devoted to theatrical and musical history with a particular emphasis on opera and on the Teatro della Scala to which it is attached. - The Castello SforzescoCastello SforzescoCastello Sforzesco is a castle in Milan, Italy, that used to be the seat and residence of the Duchy of Milan and one of the biggest citadels in Europe and now houses several of the city's museums and art collections.-History:...
houses collections of musical instruments of historical and enthnographical importance.