Overview
- Beatrice Venezi was named musical director by the La Fenice foundation with her term set to begin in October 2026 and run through March 2030.
- The orchestra demanded immediate revocation in a formal letter, saying trust with management is irreparably broken and citing subscriber cancellations and reputational damage.
- Roughly 300 employees unanimously declared a permanent state of agitation, announcing protests, leaflet distributions and the possibility of strikes.
- Protest actions reached the auditorium as leaflets were released during a Mahler concert and a workers’ statement was read to the audience.
- Soprintendente Nicola Colabianchi defended the choice as merit-based and downplayed cancellations as three out of more than two thousand, while Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro is moving to mediate as foundation president.