La Scala Premieres Shostakovich's Censored Lady Macbeth

Teatro alla Scala in Milan had a big celebration for the first performance of Shostakovich's 'Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk'.

This opera was once banned by Stalin.

The audience loved it and gave a 12-minute standing ovation.

The story is about a woman named Katerina who gets into trouble because of love and ends up in prison.

The director, Vasily Barkhatov, set the story in a dark restaurant in the 1950s, showing the harsh times under Stalin's rule.

The lead singer, Sara Jakubiak, did a great job playing Katerina.

Some people protested outside, but inside, everyone enjoyed the show.

The conductor, Riccardo Chailly, is retiring soon, and this was his last premiere.

The theater's new manager said that music is more important than political fights.