Two names that usually don’t have any association are teaming up in Milan.

83-year old American film director Woody Allen is making his directing debut at Milan’s La Scala opera house  this weekend directing Puccini’s one-act, comic opera “Gianni Schicchi.”

Allen says he’s always had a very warm and affectionate following in Europe.  Adding, even when his films were not so well received in the US, his movies were well liked in Italy, France and all over Europe.

Allen first directed  “Gianni Schicchi” in Los Angeles after being persuaded to direct opera by Placido Domingo.