In Un Palco Della Scala

In an old box at La Scala
in January ninety-three
a gala show
ladies in low-cut dresses
descended from a romantic coupe

So many people in the hall
all of Milan at a grand soirée
to listen to Tamagno
Bellincioni, Stagno
in an old box at La Scala

What a splendid season
what a rich billboard
what a list of tenors and sopranos
Manon by Massenet
Carmen by Bizet
Fra Diavolo, Ernani
the Puritans
the Sicilian Vespers

Then from the old box at La Scala
there's the appointment at the buffet
a sip of marsala, two or three marron glacés
and at the exit, the La Scala florist
offers a small bouquet of pansies

In an old box at La Scala
in January fifty-three
a gala show, ladies in low-cut dresses
descended from a modern cabriolet

So many people in the hall
all of Milan at a grand soirée
to listen to daring and innovative authors
but always return to the box at La Scala

But among the novelties
still flies and goes
the music of the most distant times
Manon by Massenet
Carmen by Bizet
Fra Diavolo, Ernani
the Puritans
the Sicilian Vespers

Slowly then the curtain falls
down go the lights in the foyer
The hall is already empty and only remains
this old box at the old La Scala
of January ninety-three