La Scala's 'Attila' speaks to today's global turmoil

La Scala's season premiere of a new production of Verdi's "Attila" takes on contemporary themes of male leaders selling out to self-interest while the final act of heroism falls to a woman.

Davide Livermore, the stage director of the production that makes its gala season premiere Friday, says "not even a rapper form the Bronx is as contemporary than Verdi."

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This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

La Scala's season premiere of a new production of Verdi's "Attila" takes on contemporary themes of male leaders selling out to self-interest while the final act of heroism falls to a woman.

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, on the ground, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

"Attila" was chosen several years ago by musical director Riccardo Chailly to be the second in a trilogy dedicated to Verdi's early works. Chailly conducts the opera, his fifth season-opener in 40 years working with La Scala.

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 show Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, center left, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, center right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, on the ground, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, on the ground, and Italian tenor Fabio Sartori, right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, left, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, center, and Italian soprano Fabio Sartori performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, left, and Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows a scene of "Attila" during a rehearsal, in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

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La Scala's season premiere of a new production of Verdi's "Attila" takes on contemporary themes of male leaders selling out to self-interest while the final act of heroism falls to a woman.

"Attila" was chosen several years ago by musical director Riccardo Chailly to be the second in a trilogy dedicated to Verdi's early works. Chailly conducts the opera, his fifth season-opener in 40 years working with La Scala.

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 show Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, center left, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, center right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, on the ground, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, on the ground, and Italian tenor Fabio Sartori, right, performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez, left, and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, center, and Italian soprano Fabio Sartori performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, left, and Spanish soprano Saioa Hernandez performing during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi's "Attila", in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

This undated photo made available by La Scala opera theater on Dec. 5, 2018 shows a scene of "Attila" during a rehearsal, in Milan, Italy. La Scala’s artistic director Riccardo Chailly conducts his fifth gala season-opener on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala with ‘’Attila,’’ the second of a trilogy dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi's early works. The gala event is one of the highlights of the European cultural calendar, attracting leading political, business and cultural figures. (BresciaAmisanoTeatro alla Scala via AP)

The timing of "Attila" premiere —- against a backdrop of global political insecurity and the rising power of women through the Me Too movement and recent U.S. midterm elections — is coincidental.

"Attila" was chosen several years ago by musical director Riccardo Chailly to be the second in a trilogy dedicated to Verdi's early works. Chailly conducts the opera, his fifth season-opener in 40 years working with La Scala.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive said Monday it will demand explanations from Eurovision song contest organizers why its flag was banned from the concert hall during the final.

In a contest already full of controversy, the European Commission said it plans “a very lively discussion” with the organizers over the ban. Even though the 27-nation EU did not compete as such, many of its member states did, and the star-spangled blue flag is often seen as a unifier for all involved.

EU Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer said it had “no information from the organizers at this point in time about the motivation for refusing the European flag during the event,” but the ban clearly angered EU Vice President Margaritis Schinas enough to hold talks with the Swiss-based European Broadcast Union, which organizes the contest.

“We certainly encourage the EBU to understand this is a mistake,” Mamer said.

During the weeklong contest, organizers were already roiled by the protests linked to the war in Gaza and the controversial disqualification of the Dutch participant over an incident which was never fully explained.

Ahead of the final, a spokesperson for the European Broadcasting Union that runs the show said ticket holders are only allowed to bring and display flags representing participating countries, as well as the rainbow-colored flag which is a symbol for LGBTQ+ communities.

Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday with “The Code,” an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing a nongender identity.

La Scala's 'Attila' speaks to today's global turmoil

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