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La Scala: 15 facts about the great Milan opera house
Puccini's great opera Turandot was unfinished at the time of the composer's death in 1924. The first performance was held at La Scala on 25 April 1926, conducted by Toscanini. In the middle of Act 3, Toscanini halted the orchestra, laid down his baton and, turning to the audience, announced, 'Here the opera ends, because at this point the maestro died'. The curtain was lowered slowly.