Conductor Riccardo Chailly to celebrate 4 decades at La Scala

MILAN - Riccardo Chailly celebrates 40 years at La Scala next season, which he will open by conducting the Italian opera Andrea Chenier starring soprano Anna Netrebko for the traditional Dec 7 gala season premiere.

The 2017-18 season of 15 operas, including eight new productions, presented on Wednesday highlights the Italian opera, in particular the genres of "verismo" and bel canto, part of the famed Milan opera house's moves to strengthen its commitment to the Italian repertoire.

"This opera house became famous for the Italian repertoire, but with the exception of Verdi, it has been a little neglected," general manager Alexander Pereira says. "There was hardly any Puccini, there was hardly any bel canto and no verismo."