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La Scala is the Italian abbreviation for Teatro alla Scala, the famous opera house in Milan which is regarded as one of the leading opera and ballet theaters in the world. It was founded in 1776 and in June 1937 the troop traveled to Berlin for three nights of Gastspiele or guest performances at the famous Deutsches Opernhaus Berlin.

The special performances were Requiem-Messe by Giuseppe Verdi at 8 pm on Sunday night 20 June 1937, La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini on Monday night 21 June and Tuesday night 22 June 1937 was reserved for Aida by Giuseppe Verdi.

The program was published by famous opera singer Wilhelm Rode, who was the Generalintendant or General Director of the German Opera House in Berlin (see reference photo left, a 1937 ad for the German opera house).

Rode is pictured on page 3 above the photo of Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and other Nazi cabinet members in the Ehrenloge or VIP box. The facing page has photos of Adolf Hitler with Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda (State Minister for National Community Clarification and Publicity) as well as Benito Mussolini, Count Ciano and other German and Italian dignitaries.

Adolf Hitler, wearing formal evening attire, attended the performance of La Bohème on Monday night 21 June 1937, accompanied by Reichspressechef der NSDAP, Dr. Otto Dietrich, Baron de Pirro (representing the Italian Propaganda Ministry), State Secretary Walther Funk, Generalintendant Wilhelm Rode and Dr. Morgagna, a representative of the board of La Scala.

The 9-¼ x 9-¼ inch, 18-page program has explanations and some text of the musical performances, photos of many performers and some of the sets, the choir director, General Director of La Scala, etc.

This beautifully printed rare original program booklet with an embossed eagle and swastika on the cream colored cover has a decorative twisted cord in red, green and white, the colors of the Italian flag, used to bind the cover to the inside pages. We show an enlargement of a portion of that cord both above and below our close-up illustration of the front cover eagle.

This fine original 87 year old Nazi program booklet of the special performances of the Mailänder Scala at the German Opera House in Berlin is complete and in very nice used condition. It would be very difficult to find another example of this piece for sale anywhere! No odor.