Giuseppe de Begnis dramma semi-serio "I Fuoriusciti di Firenze" on 20 March. The opera received a good review in "Le Moniteur Universel", and the "Journal de Paris" praised Giuseppe for his Uberto and Giuseppina for her Isabella. In due course, by popular demand, Paër expanded Giuseppe's role by adding a scena and an aria expressly for him in Act 1. In the meantime Rossini had been informed that the de Begnises had been secured for "La gazza ladra". The prospects were encouraging and on 5 May the couple sang in Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi's "La pastorella nobile". Positive reviews greeted them during the summer
La Scala to follow opera libretti in English and Italian in addition to the original language. The opera house re-opened on 7 December 2004 with a production, conducted by Riccardo Muti, of Salieri's "Europa riconosciuta", the opera performed at La Scala's inauguration in 1778. Tickets for the re-opening fetched up to €2,000. The renovations cost a reported €61 million, and left a budget shortfall that the opera house overcame in 2006. Carlo Fontana, the general manager of La Scala since 1990, was dismissed in February 2005 by the board of governors over differences with the music director, Riccardo Muti. The resulting staff