Milan and/or Opera People

[tricolore]

Alright so I'm finally getting up to Milan to do the tourist thing before we move back home.
We got cheap seats to La Scala. I'm not a big opera buff (I've been to one and it was in Virginia, so not really the same) but H is interested.

My stupid question, in cheap seats (i.e. we are not front and center by any stretch) for a Thurs evening performance in July, just how full-on dressed up do we need to get to blend w/ the crowd (I don't need to make a 'statement', but I'd also like to avoid looking completely underdressed).
I'm assuming a LBD and H in just a regular suit will be about right? Our formalwear is packed and gone and I really can't believe we need to go THAT hardcore dressed up on a Thursday.
However, Milan/Italy has me second guessing this decision. Anyone have any experience? Thanks.

[Deleted]

No need to bother with the evening wear unless it's a premiere or a gala night. A LBD is perfectly fine IMO, maybe add a shawl or stole and you're good to go. Have fun!
What do you have tickets for?

[tricolore]

Grazie! You made me feel much better...
We're going to see Don Pasquale, which I've never actually heard (going in fresh, I guess). It's a comedy though, so I think it should be easy enough to follow. Of course, H had a bunch of opera for dummies type recordings, but they're gone too. Oh well. Will have plenty of 'car time' to read-up next week !

[Cheesecake]

Agree witj Jewels, even at La Scala a LBD with a shawl or stola should be a-ok! Where and how long are you staying in Milan?

If you have time, go to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. It's gorgeous in it's own, but this year they're showing parts of the original Codex Atlanticus (da Vinci). They own them, but only show them every 10 years or so. (they rotate drawings throughout about a year and after they're shown, they go back into the safe. They should still be showing this month.


I have fat fingers, please excuse typos!

[tricolore]

Thanks, NL... that does sound like a cool opportunity. We're only in town for a couple days, unfortunately. I've always kind of written Milan off as not having much going on and now, I'm like hmmm. Sigh.

We're doing a 2.5wk road trip through IT (w.coast), France (periphery, I guess-- no Paris, no south), and Bruges (H has never been and I'd really like to take him). Not a lot of time anywhere, unfortunately, but I really do like doing the road trip thing-- lots of cool small places to see. We did the same trip last summer except southern FR and Northern/Eastern Spain and it was awesome. Plus, if we drive, the Lu (the dog) can come too, which is great.

Anyway, between the big (by EU standards) car and the dog, we're staying outside the city center (Antares) for two nights. To be honest, it's kind of nice to be a bit out of city centers forces me to walk off some of the mad calories !