Overview

• At the end of a concert, an orchestra member read a note asking for the revocation of Beatrice Venezi’s nomination as musical director, drawing a prolonged ovation and a flurry of flyers from the boxes.
• Workers remain in a formal state of agitation after assemblies condemned an abrupt, unconsulted choice by soprintendente Nicola Colabianchi, who continues to defend the decision and says subscriber cancellations are minimal.
• Unions and staff at other opera institutions, including Teatro Regio di Torino, the RSU of Fondazione Arena di Verona and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, expressed solidarity and urged adherence to top artistic standards for such appointments.
• Political reactions split along party lines as M5S accused the government of politicizing cultural nominations and figures from Fratelli d’Italia argued the protests are politically driven and praised Venezi’s credentials.
• Public mobilization includes a subscribers’ letter threatening not to renew season tickets, a Change.org petition launched by musicologist Stefano Aresi that quickly reached about 2,300 signatures, and a new Facebook committee supporting the theater’s workers.