Culture of Milan nevertheless it retained a sort of central position in cultural debates. New ideas and movements from other countries of Europe were accepted and discussed: thus Realism and Naturalism gave birth to an Italian movement, "Verismo". The greatest "verista" novelist, Giovanni Verga, was born in Sicily but wrote his most important books in Milan. Milan is a major nationwide and international centre of the performing arts, most notably opera. Milan is the location of "La Scala" opera house, one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, and throughout history has hosted the premieres of numerous operas, such as "Nabucco"
Menominee Opera House restoration and condemnation, there have been several different efforts over the past few decades to restore The Menominee Opera House. The most recent group was put together in 2004 under the name of The Menominee Opera House Committee, Inc. After two years of fundraising, this non-profit organization of local volunteers was given the deed to the building by the Vennema family corporation, which had owned it since 1979. Their goal is summed up in the group's objective: "Restoring the historic Menominee Opera House to become a multifunctional performing arts center". Fundraising efforts and restoration work by The Menominee Opera House