For the first time, a woman was chosen to lead La Scala in Milan for classical opera.

Speranza Scappucci guided her musicians through a condensed version of Romeo and Juliet.

The Italian conductor was not expecting to get the call but was chosen at the last moment to fill in for a male conductor who contracted COVID-19.

Two other women have conducted at La Scala in the last 25 years but only for contemporary works.