La Scala opens 2010-2011 season with Wagner’s ‘Die Walkuere’ conducted by Daniel Barenboim

Barenboim to conduct La Scala season premiere

MILAN — The La Scala opera house will open its 2010-11 season with Wagner’s “Die Walkuere” conducted by Daniel Barenboim.

The famed Milanese opera house announced its 2010-11 season on Friday including 15 operas, six ballets as well as concerts and tours in Belgium, Austria and Argentina — the biggest lineup in the last 20 years.

The announcement comes amid protests against a government reforms of management of the country’s state-supported opera houses that would, among other things, limit the ability of successful theaters to pay their musicians, singers and other workers higher wages.

“Die Walkuere” will open the season Dec. 7 and feature some of the most famous Wagnerian singers, including soprano Nina Stemme as Bruennhilde and mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier in the soprano role of Sieglinde.