La Scala marks Verdi, Wagner bicentennials, dismisses criticism of ‘Lohengrin’ gala

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In this undated photo provided by Alla Scala theater press office, Jonas Kaufmann, who plays Lohengrin, performs during rehersals of Richard Wagner\'s Lohengrin at the Milan La Scala opera house, Italy. The dual bicentennial of the births of composers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner is turning into a dueling bicentennial. La Scala general manager Stephane Lissner on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 dismissed as "ridiculous" criticism by the Italian media because the famed Milan opera house that was once Verdi\'s musical home is opening the celebratory season with Wagner\'s "Lohengrin." No less than Italy\'s respected President Giorgio Napolitano entered the fray. He wrote a letter to musical director Daniel Barenboim rejecting press rumors that he was snubbing the gala season opener on Friday. (AP Photo/Monika Rittershaus, La Scala)

MILAN – The dual bicentennial of the births of composers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner is turning into a dueling bicentennial.

La Scala general manager Stephane Lissner on Monday dismissed as “ridiculous” criticism by the Italian media because the famed Milan opera house that was once Verdi’s musical home is opening the celebratory season with Wagner’s “Lohengrin.”

No less than Italy’s respected President Giorgio Napolitano entered the fray. He wrote a letter to musical director Daniel Barenboim rejecting press rumours that he was snubbing the gala season opener on Friday.

Napolitano said he has state business to attend to in Rome, and called polemics over the staging of a Wagner opera “futile” and “pathetic.” He recalled attending a 1981 performance of “Lohengrin” at La Scala and welcomed its return after 30 years.

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