Earthquake survivors invited to La Scala gala premiere

MILAN (AP) - Principal conductor Riccardo Chailly is reviving Puccini's original version of "Madama Butterfly" for the season-opener of La Scala, where it will be performed for the first time since its hotly contested world debut 112 years ago.

Chailly says it is a "duty" toward Puccini to present the masterpiece as he originally intended.

In a rare break with tradition, neither the Italian president nor premier will attend the gala opening Wednesday. President Sergio Mattarella canceled his attendance at the last minute because of the political crisis, while hopes that Premier Matteo Renzi would accept the invitation at the last minute withered with his impending resignation after voters rejected his constitutional reforms.

In the place of government officials, four survivors of central Italy's recent quakes will be sitting in the royal box.