Speranza Scappucci becomes first Italian woman to conduct at La Scala

Speranza Scappucci is set to make history on January 18, 2022, as the first Italian woman to conduct an opera at Milan's Teatro alla Scala, stepping in for Evelino Pidò, who is unable to due to COVID-19. She will direct "I Capuleti e i Montecchi," an opera by Vincenzo Bellini from 1830. Born in Rome in 1973, Scappucci is an alumna of Juilliard and the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia. Since 2017, she has held the position of Principal Guest Conductor at the Royal Opéra de Wallonie and has performed at prestigious opera venues globally. She follows Claire Gibault (1995) and Susanna Mälkki (2011) as the third woman to conduct at La Scala. This production also marks Adrian Noble's directorial debut, featuring soprano Lisette Oropesa as Giulietta and mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa as Romeo.