Olly and La Scala
An evening of velvet, gold, anticipation, and Wagnerian suggestions. In the background, the echo of Rheingold.
A "Tailor-Made" Home
It all started with an unusual request: to find a location for Ólafur Sigurðarson and his wife during their long stays in Scala. They weren't looking for formal luxury, but a place to live their naturist philosophy with the utmost naturalness. Thanks to the availability of Mario and Daniela, their villa became the perfect headquarters for the preparation of the imposing Ring of the Nibelung cycle.
Sometimes people enter your life on tiptoe, through almost random channels. For us, Olly was simply the Icelandic friend looking for a quiet place in Milan to live his freedom, away from the hectic pace of hotels. We had already met a few months earlier and had shared a wonderful meal in Valtellina!
Beyond the Curtain: When Friend Becomes Myth
So, for us, Olly and Sibba (his wife) were just dear friends. We knew he sang as a Baritono, of course, but we weren't prepared for the impact of seeing him in his natural element: the stage. Even the journey to the Teatro alla Scala was exciting, with the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele lit up for the Olympics.
... and also the arrival at Scala and the meeting with our frieds Mario and Daniela.
Stunned by the Stalls
Sitting in the almost unreal silence of the stalls during the dress rehearsals is a breathtaking experience. When the music of the Ring of the Nibelung began, the emotion was so strong that it was difficult to concentrate on vocal technique or the perfection of the sounds.
In those moments, you no longer just hear the "singer," you feel the vibration of the orchestra passing through you. I found myself following the libretto, word for word, almost hypnotized by the narrative, while trying to reconcile the image of the man we had joked with moments before with that imposing figure dominating the stage. It's strange how friendship can make a talent "normal" that, for the rest of the world, is a legend.
Between the Stage and Pizza
Experiencing the work of an artist of this caliber up close is a rare privilege. Ólafur wanted to share the magic of the theater with us, inviting us to the dress rehearsals of two operas at La Scala. Seeing the power of his voice transform the stage was exciting, but the contrast with what came after was even more so.
Leaving the temple of opera and finding ourselves under the vaults of the Galleria was like a sudden awakening. The tension of the stage melted away as soon as we sat down at the table. It was there, between a pizza and the murmur of people strolling in the city center, that we found "our" Olly again.
No more Wagnerian armor, no more gods or Norse myths: just a group of friends discussing the evening over a mug of beer. It is in these moments that you understand how precious the simplicity of a person is who, despite worldwide success, has not lost the taste for an informal chat among friends.
Flavors and Freedom
The culmination of the conviviality was the next day's lunch at Mario and Daniela's. If Wagner wrote music for gods, Daniela and I cooked for friends: a triumph of Ascolana olives and typical dishes that conquered the hearts (and palates) of our guests.
And to top it all off, the following Saturday was dedicated to total relaxation in a naturist spa. It was the perfect way to honor their lifestyle in an atmosphere of total serenity and respect, before their return home.
An Until Next Time, Not a Goodbye
Looking at the photographs from those days now brings a smile. Thinking that it all started with a logistical search and that we ended up following a bel canto legend between a rehearsal at La Scala and an afternoon of naturist relaxation, makes us realize how surprising life can be.
Olly has returned home, but he leaves us with the feeling of having experienced a true friendship, born without preconceptions and nurtured by simple things: music, good company, and the freedom to be oneself, whether on a world stage or at a table with friends.