An internal trade union representing staff at the prestigious La Fenice opera house in Venice has called for a strike on Friday, October 17, the date of the premiere of Berg’s Wozzeck. The protest is against the recent appointment of conductor Beatrice Venezi as the storied theatre’s new musical director.
Venezi, 35, is a controversial figure known for her ties to the current Italian government. She was appointed as a government musical advisor by Premier Giorgia Meloni shortly after Meloni came to power three years ago and has been publicly praised by the Premier multiple times, even receiving an award from Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.
Venezi, who is also featured in a popular TV shampoo advertisement and whose father was a far-right militant, is widely seen as a key figure in the government’s declared effort to end what they view as a left-wing cultural hegemony in Italy.The striking staff and critics argue that Venezi’s qualifications are insufficient for such a prominent role. They point out that she has never before led a major opera house orchestra and that her conducting record is too slim for a post of La Fenice’s stature.Despite the controversy, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has strongly defended Venezi’s appointment.
”I like to call things by their name and people by their qualifications. Beatrice Venezi is an excellent artist and conductor. She won’t make us miss our predecessors,” Giuli stated.
He further suggested that the appointment is about introducing new leadership into the cultural sector. “There are leaders in the cultural sphere, too, and they must put themselves to the test, and she is up to the challenge. La Fenice is an exceptional place, and if something, let’s say, hasn’t been understood, it will be understood,” he added.
Venice’s La Fenice Opera House Staff Strike Over Appointment of Pro-Government Conductor Beatrice Venezi
