MILAN (AP) — Milan's famed La Scala opera house has unveiled a virtual journey through its ornate premises and rich archives via Google Arts & Culture, with serendipitous timing as theaters throughout Italy and the western world remain closed due to the coronavirus.

The project has been in the works for years, and organizers accelerated it during the coronavirus, knowing there was a captive audience eager for cultural outlets.

To herald the event, the  La Scala orchestra and artists released a video performance of an excerpt from Verdi's ''Simon Boccanegra,'' with musicians and singers performing in their gardens, living rooms, balconies and studios.

La Scala has been closed since Feb. 23, with no concrete reopening date yet announced.