Opera Protests overshadow the start of the season at the Fenice Theater in Venice
Following the clashes over the appointment of Italian conductor Beatrice Venezi as music director, the La Fenice Theater in Venice is not calming down. Protests overshadowed the start of the new season at the opera house on Thursday evening.
21.11.2025, 12:29
SDA
The 2025/2026 opera season opened with Mozart's "La Clemenza di Tito". Director Nicola Colabianchi forbade the theater staff to read out a statement against Venezi's appointment before the premiere.
"We are of the opinion that a position such as musical director of the Teatro La Fenice requires a CV, which is not present in Venezi's case," emphasized a union spokesperson on the sidelines of the premiere, according to media reports.
A leaflet from the citizens' initiative "Sconcerto Grosso", a group of music and culture-loving residents of Venice, was distributed outside the theater. "La Fenice is not for sale. You can't buy culture. We stand with the employees of the Teatro La Fenice - against the interference of power, against the arrogance of the strong," they said.
Artistic director defends music director
Artistic Director Colabianchi defends Venezi: "I am sure that we can sort everything out and restore harmony in order to continue in the best possible way," said the Artistic Director. His aim now is to "make Venezi known, because she is a capable conductor. I have already had the opportunity to work with her," said the artistic director, according to media reports.
For weeks, protests have been raging in Venice against the appointment of the 35-year-old Venezi as music director of the renowned theater. There are also political reasons behind this. Venezi was appointed musical advisor to the right-wing government shortly after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office three years ago and has been praised by the Prime Minister on several occasions. She also received an award from Meloni's right-wing governing party Fratelli d'Italia.
Venezi has never conducted a major opera orchestra. Critics complain that her experience as a conductor is too limited for such an important position as music director of the Teatro La Fenice.
