Samantha Stella's 'Largo: Giardino con la luna piena' Blends Art, Design, and Dance at La Scala

During Milan Design Week, artist and performer Samantha Stella presented 'Largo: Giardino con la luna piena' at Teatro alla Scala on April 19, 2023. The installation, inspired by the ancient House of the Vestals, features Edra's Flowers Collection armchairs—including Masanori Umeda's 'Getsuen' lily-shaped seat and 'Rose Chair'—arranged like a garden of black roses against the stage backdrop, evoking a colonnade guarded by modern vestals. The performance included choreography by Matteo Levaggi (co-founder of Matteo Stella Dance Arts) with dancers from the Accademia's Scuola di Ballo, and cellist Sofia Bellettini playing Bach. Costumes referenced La Scala's history: a black body and pointe shoes reminiscent of Balanchine, a veil from Pietro Zuffi's 1954 'La Vestale' (directed by Luchino Visconti, starring Maria Callas), a cream dress from Franca Squarciapino's 1995 'Romeo e Giulietta' costumes (choreography by Kenneth MacMillan, sets by Ezio Frigerio), a golden sword and helmet from the 2015 'Giovanna D'Arco' (directed by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, sets by Christian Fenouillant, costumes by Agostino Cavalca), and a feathered white tutu from Odette in 'Swan Lake' (music by Tchaikovsky). The goddess Vesta, in a black cloak, guarded the sacred fire of the theater. Edra, a Tuscan furniture brand, dedicated the evening to Japanese designer Masanori Umeda.