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La Fenice Premiere Marked by Protests as Council and Culture Minister Back Beatrice Venezi

Unions chose protest over a walkout to spotlight concerns about how the job was awarded.

Overview

  • At the season opener in Venice, musicians and unions handed out flyers and read a protest statement outside after theater management barred an in‑hall reading.
  • After the performance, leaflets were tossed from upper levels as supporters of the workers decried political interference and called La Fenice a public good.
  • The theater’s oversight council issued a formal note expressing full solidarity with sovrintendente Nicola Colabianchi and unanimous support for Venezi.
  • Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli publicly dismissed talk of removing Venezi as unreliable slander and praised her commitment to the theater.
  • Unions maintained a state of agitation without striking, continued to seek dialogue, and argued the appointment was imposed and not based on transparent, shared criteria; Colabianchi signaled a meeting with Venezi could occur by year’s end as she concludes engagements in Buenos Aires.