Claudio Abbado, a final farewell to the Maestro who taught us not to waste our talent.

Claudio Abbado has left us, but his teachings and example remain deeply in the hearts of the people. This is demonstrated by the crowd of Milanese residents, tourists, musicians, young and old, families, and students who packed Piazza della Scala on Monday, creating a crowd unseen even at the premiere (estimated at over 8 people). For the final farewell to the maestro who led the temple of Milanese opera for eighteen years (1968–1986), Teatro alla Scala was empty, but its doors were open: inside, the Filarmonica, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, performed the Funeral March (Adagio assai) from Ludwig van Beethoven's Third "Eroica" Symphony.

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THE PROTEST. As we read on the corriere.it website, there was also a symbolic "protest" by the Teatro alla Scala's CUB. Two people carried a small olive tree to the entrance, with a sign that read: "We plant this olive tree, asking the mayor of Milan to realize the maestro's dream of planting 89.999 more ." They were referring to the agreement that Abbado, who wanted a "greener" Milan, made in 2010 with then-mayor Moratti to add 90 trees to the city. In exchange, he would return to La Scala after 24 years to conduct two concerts. For the people of Milan, the trees would be his reward.

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