Zeinab Badawi travels to La Scala in Milan, one of the world's most prestigious opera houses, where top singers like the thrilling Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva perform in starring roles. But what audiences do not see is the army of talent backstage who make sure that everything is right on the night.

Zeinab goes behind the scenes and visits the vast workshop attached to La Scala Theatre, where technical teams work painstakingly and patiently to deliver amazing sets, backdrops, costumes and props. She meets the teams of creatives who are involved in staging a complex and traditional opera – La Gioconda by Ponchielli – as the pressure builds up ahead of opening night at La Scala. We also hear from Sonya Yoncheva herself and her conductor husband Domingo Hindoyan about how getting the relationship right between conductor and singer is critical to any opera's success. Show less