First Opera at Duomo di Milano Produced by Kuniaki Ida

Duomo di Milano staged an opera for the first time since its founding in 1386 produced by Kuniaki Ida, October 22.

Duomo di Milano is Italy's leading church structure where only masses, requiems and church music are performed and secular music like opera has long been tabooed. Milanoexpo-2015 offered an opportunity to open its doors to secular music to embellish its finale with a musical event "Week of Music October 2015" staging Claudio Monteverdi's masterpiece "‎L'Orfeo", one of the oldest operas based on the Greek mythology of Orpheus.

Milano's Claudio Abbado Music Conservatory, where Kuniaki Ida teaches, produced the opera with its baroque orchestra under the baton of Roberto Baroconi, himself an active countertenor and instructor of baroque style of singing, joined by amateur student singers.

A semi-stage was set up for the orchestra to sit in the center with singers, soloists and a choir, surrounding it, under the roses window on the other side of the altar. The benches for worship were turned 180 degrees around to provide space for the performance.

A tax-exempted religious corporation, the church could not seek profit. Admission was way low at 5 Euro for seats and 2 Euro for standing room. The house was full though without advance publicity.

Orfeo was a harpist/singer. His lovely wife Euridice was bitten by a venomous snake and died. Orfeo walked into Hades and once retrieved his wife. However, he broke his pledge never to look back on her and her wife died her second death.

Apollo sent his sorrow-stricken son Orfeo to heaven and gave him an eternal life.

Monteverdi's music combines words and music so magnificently to create a world of the richest of emotions.Ida remarks:

"We concentrated on the structure and space and removed any other effects but Monteverdi's music.

"No weapons, no spears. Only sticks were used as a medium of expression. It was a fantastic performance - so brilliant that it brought tears in my eyes".