La Scala's gala premiere is a Verdi opera with a reputation for bringing bad luck

MILAN (AP) — Milan’s storied Teatro alla Scala presents Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” for its gala season premiere Saturday for the first time in 59 years, seeking to shake the opera's reputation for bringing bad luck.

The premiere is a highlight of the Milan cultural calendar, attracting top figures from the world of politics, business and the arts, although this year, both President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giorgia Meloni have chosen instead to attend ceremonies marking the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Russian soprano Anna Netrebk o sings the role of Leonora to American tenor Brian Jagde's Don Alvaro. Jagde was brought in on short notice to substitute for German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, who dropped out for family reasons.

It is Jagde’s fourth time singing the role of Don Alvaro this year alone, and his third La Scala performance — he was previously twice brought in as a substitute alongside Netrebko in “Turandot.”

Netrebko called the score of “La Forza del Destino” a “masterpiece,” but confessed that she could not identify with her character, Leonora, ’’as a woman of the 21st century.”

“If you are looking at the story, it is basically nonsense, sorry,” she told a recent press conference. "If we are being serious and trying to follow the story, and try to understand, especially the character of Leonora, hunted by fear, guilt, desperation, and in the end what did she find?”

The opera is an ill-fated love story between Don Alvaro and Leonora set against the background of a world on the brink of apocalypse, which has resonance in current global turbulence. There was also a pro-Palestinian protest in the center of Milan just ahead of the VIP arrivals at La Scala. Unions also traditionally protest the lavish event in the piazza opposite the opera house.

Verdi’s opera has been long dogged by superstition that it brings bad luck, so much so that some in Italy will not say the full title aloud. It’s a reputation that the staging director of the La Scala production hopes to shake once and for all.

“We will be the catalyzers of good luck,’’ Leo Muscato told Corriere della Sera, adding that every production has its “accidents.”

People take to the street in MIlan, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, to protest against ongoing wars and a security bill being discussed in the parliament that would introduce new rules about public demonstrations and the right to strike. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

People take to the street in MIlan, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, to protest against ongoing wars and a security bill being discussed in the parliament that would introduce new rules about public demonstrations and the right to strike. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

People take to the street in MIlan, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, to protest against ongoing wars and a security bill being discussed in the parliament that would introduce new rules about public demonstrations and the right to strike. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

People take to the street in MIlan, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, to protest against ongoing wars and a security bill being discussed in the parliament that would introduce new rules about public demonstrations and the right to strike. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

People take to the street in MIlan, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, to protest against ongoing wars and a security bill being discussed in the parliament that would introduce new rules about public demonstrations and the right to strike. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Etoiles Nicoletta Manni, left, and Timofej Andrijashenko pose for photographers as they arrive at Milan's Opera House La Scala, northern Italy, for the opening of the 2024-25 season featuring Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Forza del destino', Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Olympic medallist Gianmarco Tamberi and wife Chiara Bontempi, left, pose for photographers as they arrive at Milan's Opera House La Scala, northern Italy, for the opening of the 2024-25 season featuring Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Forza del destino', Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Olympic medallist Gianmarco Tamberi and wife Chiara Bontempi, left, pose for photographers as they arrive at Milan's Opera House La Scala, northern Italy, for the opening of the 2024-25 season featuring Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Forza del destino', Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Olympic medallist Gianmarco Tamberi and wife Chiara Bontempi, left, pose for photographers as they arrive at Milan's Opera House La Scala, northern Italy, for the opening of the 2024-25 season featuring Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Forza del destino', Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Etoiles Nicoletta Manni, left, and Timofej Andrijashenko pose for photographers as they arrive at Milan's Opera House La Scala, northern Italy, for the opening of the 2024-25 season featuring Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Forza del destino', Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Arsenal ensured it will end the year top of the Premier League after beating Aston Villa 4-1 at home in a powerful statement win on Tuesday with all goals scored in the second half.

The fourth goal, scored by substitute Gabriel Jesus one minute after coming on, highlighted the depth of Arsenal's bench this season and coach Mikel Arteta jubilantly high-fived his assistants at the final whistle.

Victory moved Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City, which plays at Sunderland on New Year's Day, and six points clear of third-place Villa.

Elsewhere, Chelsea drew 2-2 at home to Bournemouth; Newcastle won 3-1 at lowly Burnley; and Manchester United was held 1-1 at home to rock-bottom Wolverhampton.

Struggling West Ham drew 2-2 with visiting Brighton, and Everton won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest.

No Arsenal player is near the top of the scorers’ charts this season, yet sharing the goals around might just be the team’s strength.

Defender Gabriel Magalhães headed home early in the second half following a corner for set-piece specialist Arsenal, and midfielder Martín Zubimendi netted in the 52nd minute.

Winger Leandro Trossard curled in a fine third from the edge of the penalty area in the 69th and was involved in the fourth goal, curled into the same corner from almost the same spot in the 78th minute by Jesus after Arsenal had launched a superb counterattack from deep.

The win was even more impressive considering Arsenal was missing key midfielder Declan Rice with a knee injury and Villa was playing on the back of 11 straight victories in all competitions.

Gabriel nodded in from close range and was deemed not to have impeded Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with his elbow.

Zubimendi finished confidently after captain Martin Ødegaard expertly won the ball in midfield and advanced before threading a perfect ball behind Villa’s defense.

Ollie Watkins grabbed an injury-time consolation for Villa.

Bournemouth's David Brooks netted early from close range after Chelsea failed to deal with a throw-in from the right.

Cole Palmer equalized in the 15th with a penalty awarded after a video review ruled that Antoine Semenyo’s knee had gone into the back of forward Estevão’s leg.

Midfielder Enzo Fernández gave Chelsea the lead midway through the first half, but Chelsea gifted Bournemouth an equalizer when a defender headed on a throw-in from the left and Justin Kluivert scored at the back post for 2-2.

Chelsea is fifth and level on 30 points with United in sixth.

Manchester United led through Joshua Zirkzee’s deflected strike in the 27th but Ladislav Krejčí equalized close to halftime for Wolves with a powerful downward header.

It was Wolves manager Rob Edwards' first point since taking charge in November.

Patrick Dorgu’s injury-time goal for United was ruled out for offside by VAR.

Yoane Wissa grabbed his first league goal since joining from Brentford as Newcastle moved into 10th spot.

Newcastle was 2-0 up inside seven minutes with Joelinton being set up from the left wing by Anthony Gordon and Wissa bundling in from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

Josh Laurent pulled a goal back for Burnley midway through the first half. Newcastle survived nervy moments before Bruno Guimarães sealed the win with an expert lob in stoppage time.

Next-to-last Burnley is two points behind West Ham in 18th.

Everton netted in the 19th when James Garner drilled in a low finish after being set up down the right by Dwight McNeil.

Garner then turned neatly in midfield before feeding Thierno Barry with a defense-splitting pass to make it 2-0 against Forest in the 79th.

West Ham took an early lead against Brighton when striker Jarrod Bowen latched onto Lucas Paquetá’s exquisite through ball from halfway and struck a low shot into the bottom corner.

Veteran forward Danny Welbeck equalized for Brighton from the penalty spot for his eighth goal of the season, and then hit the crossbar with a Panenka-style chipped penalty later in the first half.

Paquetá converted his spot kick with a staggered run-up in first-half injury time, but Joël Veltman equalized for Brighton in the 61st following a corner.

Defending champion Liverpool hosts Leeds on Thursday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee celebrates after he scored the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Chelsea's Joao Pedro, top, helps Wesley Fofana stand up after the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's Gabriel, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa in London, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP photo/Alastair Grant)

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa in London, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP photo/Alastair Grant)

Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Aston Villa in London, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP photo/Alastair Grant)