Video by Alexander Meschersky

(19 Oct 2000) Natural Sound Queen Elizabeth II concluded her tour of Italy in Milan where she attended a special concert in her honour at the Milan Scala Opera theatre. About two thousand fans of royalty if not of opera, cheered the queen as she arrived on Wednesday night at the famed ornate 18th-century building. The 45-minute programme, featured Sir Edward Elgar’s “In The South“ and Ottorino Respighi’s “Pines of Rome“, and was played by the La Scala Philharmonic. The conductor, maestro Riccardo Muti, who last year raised a small storm by refusing to play Italy’s anthem at a La Scala gala night, this time led musicians in both Italy’s anthem and “God Save the Queen.“ And like most visitors to this northern Italian city, the Queen and Prince Phillip were expected to view the gem in Milan’s cultural crown - Leonardo da Vinci’s recently-restored Last Supper. The British royals have been in Italy for three days. During that time the Queen met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. This was her first official visit to Milan since 1961. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: