The world famous La Scala opera house in Milan has had to close a section of seating after deadly asbestos was found in the ceiling.

The opera house has blocked off a seating area in an upper gallery so that the asbestos can be safely removed.The work, expected to be finished by October, will be carried out during the night, so that rehearsals and performances can go ahead as scheduled. It comes as the opera house prepares to reopen after a summer break with the ballet “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” with the first performance on Saturday.A spokesman said the asbestos was found in a “very limited” section of a lighting area near a ceiling cornice back in December, when it was immediately sealed.Health officials were monitoring the situation and had found no evidence that the asbestos fibres had spread, said Carlo Maria Cella.Around 270 seats in the opera theatre’s top loggia will be sealed off. Ticketholders will be offered “upgrades” to better seats or their money back.Commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, La Scala opened in 1778 and has become one of the world’s best known opera houses.Many of the best known names in Italian opera have had their works performed there, including Bellini, Rossini and Verdi.La Scala’s official season begins on Dec 7 with a lavish gala night.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6123434/Asbestos-closes-La-Scala-opera-house.html By Nick Squires in Rome
Published: 7:00AM BST 02 Sep 2009