The premiere of Wozzeck at La Fenice in Venice has been cancelled. On Friday, October 17, the theater's unions called a strike, reiterating "the request to revoke the appointment of Maestro Beatrice Venezi as musical director." Superintendent Nicola Colabianchi hopes "there will be an opportunity to continue the dialogue" and emphasizes that the strike "is not the most effective form of protest for the theater workers' goals because it harms the audience."
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who did much to smooth over tensions in today's long-awaited meeting with the union and the Fenice management, was unable to avoid a standoff "that leads nowhere," he said . The union, which had declared a state of unrest on September 27, is standing firm on the position it took at the general assembly. Colabianchi, on the other hand, is not reversing anything: "Venezi's resume is excellent, considering he's already directed 50-60 operas, and considering he's 35 years old," he said.
Brugnaro agrees, renewing his confidence in the superintendent and stating bluntly that Venezi "shouldn't resign. But why should she step back? I would advise against it. I told her, 'Look, don't even dream about it,'" the mayor states. "I spoke with Teacher Venezi, and she made a good impression on me; she was impressed. She's a very tenacious person," the mayor adds. The superintendent speaks of "denigration on social media. The line has been crossed; I hope we can return to a more reasonable position."
Colabianchi also explains that he "decided to speed things up to prevent anything unexpected from happening. Then much more happened. Ultimately, we're working for the good of the theater; our primary interest is that of La Fenice, its staff, and the Chorus, which are of the highest caliber. I'm certain that this musical direction will benefit this institution." Regarding the approval of the Board of Directors, which had caused some controversy, he says that "I consulted with all the board members individually, and they all gave me their approval."
Colabianchi also denies pressure from Rome on the appointment: "No requests. In fact, I brought forward Venezi's appointment to avoid any interference. As superintendent and artistic director, I evaluated what could be the most intelligent, freshest, and most proactive proposal for La Fenice. Innovation is difficult; it means breaking established patterns that have no future." Brugnaro, meanwhile, maintains that "political influence has always been there and always will be. It's inevitable, fortunately. I'd be in favor of the spoils system; I'd fire everyone when a new one comes along. We could be a source of innovation for the Opera Foundations. Venice has always been a place of experimentation."
Meanwhile, the theater's union representative has announced a "public meeting on October 17th at 6:00 PM, at a location to be announced in the coming days. This meeting will also be open to colleagues from other cultural institutions who have expressed solidarity with the Teatro La Fenice and the entire community." Following a letter signed by 140 season ticket holders, ready to cancel their subscriptions following Venezi's appointment, Brugnaro announced that to date, "three season tickets have been cancelled, and we've resubscribed twenty. We've received a promise that some will not renew their season tickets. I believe those boxes that have been booked for years will immediately find a seller, presumably at higher prices. This is my prediction."
The mayor is also confident that "Venezi's first concert at La Fenice will sell out and double the price of tickets." The superintendent and the mayor nonetheless hope that the situation will be resolved. "We've gone much further than a petition against a director," Colabianchi emphasizes. And Brugnaro expresses his "intention and desire to continue to maintain a channel of listening and dialogue," but the road seems increasingly uphill.
(Unioneonline)